Loaded Flintlock - problem or not?

Ken Maddock · 18th September 2014, 07:50 PM

Hi
This has happened to me twice
My method of extracting ball same in both cases
I got a coarse threaded screw and sharpened the tip
Welded this onto a steel rod and once I had the rod far enough in to engage the ball then I bent it at 90 degrees so I could rotate rod and drive it into the lead ball
This worked fine both times
With the Brown Bess with a long barel the ball came out and I then scraped what was behind out and put a match to it
It flared up instantly so the powder was live
be careful
Take your time and don't put hands or fingers over the barel when doing the extracting

If doing again I would add water to dampen the potential powder

The powder might be still live or it might be expended
No point in taking a chance
Best of luck
Nice to have a story with the gun
Obviously remove flint if present in the hammer before you do anything
Regards
Ken

18th September 2014, 07:50 PM	#1
Ken Maddock Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland Posts: 104	Hi This has happened to me twice My method of extracting ball same in both cases I got a coarse threaded screw and sharpened the tip Welded this onto a steel rod and once I had the rod far enough in to engage the ball then I bent it at 90 degrees so I could rotate rod and drive it into the lead ball This worked fine both times With the Brown Bess with a long barel the ball came out and I then scraped what was behind out and put a match to it It flared up instantly so the powder was live be careful Take your time and don't put hands or fingers over the barel when doing the extracting If doing again I would add water to dampen the potential powder The powder might be still live or it might be expended No point in taking a chance Best of luck Nice to have a story with the gun Obviously remove flint if present in the hammer before you do anything Regards Ken Last edited by Ken Maddock; 18th September 2014 at 10:38 PM.