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Unusual percussion lock - Anyone able to identify it?
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2022 5:44 pm
by 1066
Saw this unusual percussion lock today - it looks like it's designed to use a reel a caps. My guess would be 1810-1820 but I'm sure one of you knowledgeable chaps will be able to tell me more about it.
Re: Unusual percussion lock - Anyone able to identify it?
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2022 10:07 pm
by glevum
Looks like it might be a Maynard Tape Primer Percussion Lock
Re: Unusual percussion lock - Anyone able to identify it?
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2022 11:23 pm
by redcat
It is indeed a Maynard tape primer from the Greene carbine. A little information here:
https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallar ... ms_id=1049
Redcat
Re: Unusual percussion lock - Anyone able to identify it?
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2022 9:30 am
by channel12
The Maynard tape primer system failed in its intended purpose as an ignition method for firearms, the percussion cap won that role for a while until the advent of the metallic cartridge.
However I'm most of us as boys have used Maynard style tape primers in our toy "cowboy" cap guns so although unsuccessful in its primary purpose the tape primer lived on into the 20th century (and maybe you can still buy a roll of caps?).
Re: Unusual percussion lock - Anyone able to identify it?
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2023 8:29 pm
by IainWR
It has a Queen's crown and seems to be marked VR, so 1837 at the earliest.
Re: Unusual percussion lock - Anyone able to identify it?
Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2023 9:50 pm
by Graham M
Re: Unusual percussion lock - Anyone able to identify it?
Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2023 4:23 pm
by channel12
IainWR wrote: ↑Sun Apr 09, 2023 8:29 pm
It has a Queen's crown and seems to be marked VR, so 1837 at the earliest.
Note the x between the V and the R indicating that this was foreign made gun which can be seen by the American manufacturer name on the lock. I'm going to suggest this imported by George Lovell on the Tower as he was always looking at what other gun making developments were taking place elsewhere. He imported and made a British copy of the Dreyse needle fire rifle for instance.