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Post by bushfire on May 30, 2023 10:42:18 GMT -7
I’ve seen people adamant that hammer refers to the cock, while others the frizzen. My understanding was that in the flintlock period a hammer was the latter. Does anyone have any contemporary references that allude to the correct use one way or another?
Thank you
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Post by artificer on May 30, 2023 12:05:14 GMT -7
Have you ever heard of a Hammer Stall? www.najecki.com/repro/musket/Hammerstall.jpg"On Service, leather Hammer-Stalls are undoubtedly an advantage to a Battalion, when loaded, and resting on their arms, as accidents may be prevented, by having them fixed upon the hammers of the Firelocks, Cuthbertson's System, for the complete interior management and œconomy of a battalion of infantry. (1776) I even have one quote that talks about making "Hammer Slats" (Instead of Stalls) out of deerskin during the FIW. Gus |
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Post by artificer on May 30, 2023 14:42:44 GMT -7
Two more from same source,
Page 90
the Officer should direct his smith to try if all the Hammers are steeled and hardened
Page 92
and a small bit of wood, shaped like a flint, to use in their exercise, in practicing the firing motions, as the frequent striking up the hammers, must unavoidably break and spoil the flints, without answering any useful end.
Gus
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Post by artificer on May 30, 2023 15:07:07 GMT -7
18th Century British Musket Parts Terminology
In case some others may find some 18th century terminology as confusing as I used to find (and in some cases still do), I thought some others may find this information interesting. The information on this terminology comes from Dr. De Witt Bailey’s works, A Soldier Like Way by R. Gale, Of Sorts For Provincials, by Jim Mullins, The Brown Bess by Goldstein & Mowbray, Colonial Frontier Guns by T.M. Hamilton and other sources. (Note: Just like today, it was very common for civilians to use the nomenclature terminology and often, if not usually apply it to civilian arms as well.)
First to mention is the use of the terms “Nails,” “Nailes,” or sometimes “Nales.” This could actually mean nails as we know them; for example on some cheaper guns, they used nails to nail on butt plates. However, it commonly (if not normally) meant screws as we know them and that could be either machine screws or wood screws.
The next is the use of the term “Pins” that also often had a dual definition. This could actually mean straight pins like the pins used to hold the rammer or ramrod pipes to the wooden stock. However, it was also a common term for a Screw as well.
The next are the Terms “Single Bridle” Lock and “Double Bridle” Lock. Many 17th century guns and cheap guns to the middle of the 18th century, had no bridle on the pan or over the Tumbler. A Single Bridle Lock almost always meant a lock with a bridle over the Tumbler. A Double Bridle Lock meant it also had a bridle in front of the pan to reinforce/stabilize the Hammer or what we normally call the Frizzen.
This list is not all encompassing and I hope to add more terms as I run across them. So on the Left in bold will be the period terms and to the right will be the modern definitions.
Apron The raised decorative area around the Tang or around the front and rear of the Lock & Side Panels.
Ball Bag In the British Military, a bag or pouch suspended from the waist belt that held additional full size balls and smaller shot
Ball Screw Ball Puller
Baluster-Moulding The reinforcing ornamental moulding (molding) at the breech of the barrel where it joins the breech plug tang. Commonly known as a/the wedding band/s.
Bayonet Lug Sometimes the Front Sight. On some Dutch & French Arms the additional or separate lug for the bayonet socket.
Britch The Breech or rear end of the barrel
Britch Pin or Britch Screw The Tang that included the breech threads. Usually called a breech plug today.
Britch Tap The threading tool that cuts the threads in the barrel for Britch Pin/Screw or Breech Plug as it is known today.
Cock The “S” shaped part that holds the flint, on a Percussion gun it is called the Hammer
Cock Jaw Top Jaw
Cock Pin or Screw Top Jaw Screw
Cramp or Spring Cramp (Also see Spring Hook) A Mainspring Vise or other Vise to compress Lock Springs
Double Bridle (Lock) Refers to a Lock that has both a Bridle over the Tumbler AND a Bridle or Reinforcement for the Hammer/Steel/Frizzen.
Feather Spring Another term for the Hammer or Frizzen Spring
Fence The vertical upward extension at the rear of the priming pan to prevent the pan-flash reaching the face of the shooter.
Firelock The complete Military Arm
Furniture (Mounts) Brass or Steel stock fittings used to protect and/or strengthen various areas of the stock
Hammer AKA “the Steel” in the period (Frizzen beginning in the 19th century)
Hammer Pin Frizzen Screw
Hammer Spring Frizzen Spring
Lock Nails or Pins Side lock Screws that hold the lock in the stock
Loop (Lug or Tennon) A barrel lug through which Pins passed to hold the stock to the barrel OR for the Front Swivel Screw.
Noseband or Nose Band Normally a piece of sheet brass (though sometimes other metals) wrapped around the front of a stock to reinforce it against splitting or as a repair for such a split.
Nosecap or Nose Cap Normally a cast Brass Cap for the front end of the stock and used with Muskets fitted with Steel Rammers. Different from a “Nose Band” in that it was a solid piece that fitted over the front end of the stock.
Rammer The Steel “Ramrod” that was used on Military Arms
Ramrod Always meant to have been made of wood, even when referring to earlier Military Muskets before Steel Rammers were used
Screw Worm A curious combination of a two tined Worm combined with a Ball Puller Screw in the center and between the tines of the Worm. Probably not very effective as not many seemed to have been made past the 18th century.
Sidenails or Side Nails The screw/screws that passed through the stock and held the Lock in place
Sidepiece What we call the Side Plate today
Sidepiece Flat The flat area the same general size of the Lock Panel and on the other side of the stock, AKA the Side Panel.
Sight (Front) British Ordnance always used the term “Sight,” though sometimes referred to by others as the Bayonet Lug.
Single Bridle (Lock) A lock that had only a Bridle over the Tumbler and not one for the Frizzen.
Spring Hook (Also see Cramp) A Mainspring Vise or other vise to compress Lock Springs
Steel or The Steel Another period name for the Frizzen. Besides the springs, this is the one part usually, if not always, made of steel and struck sparks like a Steel from a fire starting kit.
Swivel Pin Swivel Screw
Threads The British Ordnance Term for the Decorative Double Engraved Lines on a Lock, Cock or other parts.
Thumbpiece The Brass Escutcheon Plate commonly found on Military Muskets behind the Barrel Tang. Normally engraved with the Regiment, Company and Rack Number of the Musket.
Tumbler Pin / Cock Screw AKA “Hammer” Screw on Percussion guns. Somewhat large headed screw seen from the outside of the lock that joins the Cock and Tumbler.
Turnscrew Screwdriver
Worm Coiled Spring with one sharp point used for Wood Ramrod Guns. Two twisted coils and sharp points and threaded to put on the end of a Rammer for Iron/Steel Rammer Guns.
Gus
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Post by spence on May 30, 2023 16:36:35 GMT -7
The GAZETTE Of The State Of South-Carolina
August 25, 1779
CHARLES-TOWN
Thirty dollars Reward
Stolen on the 21st of August, in camp at Sheldon, a silver-mounted brass-barrel Pistol, the barrel rifled to the screw, marked C. DUPONT on the but, under the lock Wilison, on the upper part of the barrel LONDON, the lock hidden in the stock, except the cock, pan, frison and spring. If such should be offered for sale, the stopping and sending of it to Wade Hampton Esq; at Mr. Hutchinson tavern-keeper in Charles-Town, will be thankfully acknowledged by Anthony Shart, Capt. In 5th North-Carolina Bat.
******
In the “Scottish Dictionary and Supplement: In Four Volumes. A-Kut, Volume 1”, and the original which is quoted there, in “The last battle of the soul in death” by Mr. Zacharie Boyd, Minister of the Barony Church, Glasgow, 1629, ed. by G. Neil: “Hee is euer readie to strike fire with his frezell and his flint, if wee will find him tinder.”
******
In Wm. Duane's "A Handbook For Infantry" printed in 1813 and adopted by the U S army in 1813......page 99...
"OPEN PAN....Three motions........
3. The hammer is thrown open with the thumb of the right hand."
******
In "Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the United states" by Baron De Steuben, 1779, page 7....
"PRIME.....Shake the powder into the pan, and covering the cartridge again, place the three last fingers behind the hammer, with your elbow up.
Spence
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Post by artificer on Jun 3, 2023 19:41:12 GMT -7
From “A Soldier Like Way” by R.R. Gale, we have these quotes:
“Safety was an important issue. Accidental discharges were frequent, and occasionally resulting in the wounding or death of a fellow soldier, as General Jeffery Amherst noted in June 1758:”
“A man of mine wounded and one of Bragg’s wounded by his firelock going off”
“Captain Robert Stewart of the Virginia Regiment writing to George Washington in March 1761 wrote”¦
“”¦.. the Nature of the Service we are likely to be employ’d in, will in some measure dispense with bayonets, we can make Lock Covers of Cow Hides, and Hammer Slatts of Deer Skines &ca”
From Dragon Rampant: The Royal Welch Fusiliers at War, 1793-1815 by Donald Graves, Page 88
"On the morning of 21 December 1808 the 2/23rd Foot was approaching the village of Sahagun when firing was heard in front. Lieutenant Colonel Wyatt immediately gave the order, 'Off hammer caps' which, Thorpe recorded, 'caused a thrilling sensation of delight, expectation, and ten thousand other thoughts and feelings impossible to describe'. (11) This was followed by the command, 'Prime, and load!' and 'the ramrods rattled gaily in the barrels, bayonets were fixed, and as if their musical jingle had raised the spirits of all', the battalion moved forward at the 'double quick', eager to see action."
Here's one Spence gave a while ago:
Orderly book of Col Meredith, Virginia Militia on home guard..
"July 11.th 1776
Parole Hampton
That each Soldier make a Leather cover to the Steel of his gun which is to be kept on the same--each man Provide himself with an oyl Cloth which he is to keep constantly by him to Prevent his Arms from taking rust--The Quarter Master is Directed to make application to thos Persons who may kill any Mutton or Lambs for the Legs, which are to be Served to the Different Companies to oyl the inside of their Locks."
From A Soldier Like Way by R.R. Gale on page 21.
"Captain James Stewart of the 42nd Regiment gave the following order in February of 1760:
"The mens arms to be put in perfect repair and to be completed in stoppers, pickers, brushes and hammer caps...."
Gus
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Post by spence on Jun 4, 2023 11:03:26 GMT -7
“Captain Robert Stewart of the Virginia Regiment writing to George Washington in March 1761 wrote”¦ “”¦.. the Nature of the Service we are likely to be employ’d in, will in some measure dispense with bayonets, we can make Lock Covers of Cow Hides, and Hammer Slatts of Deer Skines &ca” Hammer Slatts? When I type I have a recurring problem, I occasionally let one hand get ahead of the other and type the correct letter, but in the wrong sequence. I frequently write 'teh' instead of 'the'. I'm suspicious that some transcriber in the unknown past has done something similar with this word, typed 'slatts' when he meant 'stalls'. I think the fact that there are two 't's is a strong clue that this is what happened. The letters 't' and 'l' are typed with different hands, another clue which fits. I can't find the original of this quotation, can anyone? The dictionary has only one definition for slat, a thin strip of wood, plastic or metal. Slat with a double 't' doesn't seem to exist. Spence |
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Post by spence on Jun 4, 2023 11:19:28 GMT -7
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990 
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Post by Keith on Jun 4, 2023 18:37:42 GMT -7
I’ve seen people adamant that hammer refers to the cock, while others the frizzen. My understanding was that in the flintlock period a hammer was the latter. Does anyone have any contemporary references that allude to the correct use one way or another? Thank you Hammer Stall Documentation. Lieutenant Colonel Wyatt immediately gave the order, Off hammer cap Thorp, 1808. ...On Service, leather Hammer-stalls are undoubtedly an advantage to a Battalion, when loaded, and resting on their Arms, as accidents may be prevented by having them fixed upon the hammers of the Firelocks..." Cuthbertson. (pg 93, XIII). It is left to their [officers] discretion in time of real Action to disencumber such men as they may think proper entirely of them [arms], taking care that they be lodged in their Ammunition Carriages and to prevent any possible Accident happening therefrom, thumb stalls have been ordered to be provided which the men are constantly to keep on the hammer of their pieces except when posted centrys." Great Britain, Royal Artillery Regiment Library, Woolwich, Brigade Orderly Book, James Pattison Papers. 1778. The hammer stalls shall always be made of red Russia leather. woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-correct-18th-century-term-for-steel.htmlA hammer stall, also known as a hammer cap, is a leather device like a thumb stall which is placed over the hammer on a flint lock as a safety measure. With the stall in place, the flint in the jaws of the cock can not strike the hammer face, and therefore prevents accidental discharge of the gun. Although the hammer stall seems to have been mainly used by the military in the 18th century, it is possible that civilians and militia could have used them. To date, I have been unable to find any original images or originals in museum collections. Being made of leather it is possible that none have survived, though I would have thought that some of the larger military arms collections would still have intact stalls. woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/03/making-hammer-stall-documentation.html Keith. |
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990
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Post by Keith on Jun 4, 2023 18:43:33 GMT -7
Good find Spence, well done. Regards, Keith. |
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Post by artificer on Jun 4, 2023 22:25:56 GMT -7
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