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Hey folks, I've been searching for a first rate repro. Enfield snap cap and it seems no-one is making a truly accurate one. The Blockade Runner version comes close, the chains look really good, but the leather washer is just a single piece that's glued rather than pressed on. Of course (!) the thing falls off the first time you snap the lock. The split ring looks like it's plated as well. I was trying to find an original snap cap that still had the washer on it (missing from the examples I've seen in person) but have had no luck in my internet searches. I DID discover the following which sheds light on how these were made.
The following is from the War Department Notes of GC Holden, Assistant Superintendent of Stores which were transcribed from the original handwritten notes by Adrian Roads. They are found at "www.researchpress.co.uk/firearms/british/enfield/wdn_stopper.htm".
"The pad consisting of two bits of leather fastened together by fish glue. The under piece of leather has a hole in it for the nipple, and at the bottom of which there is a small thin disc of brass punched out of sheet brass and pressed into the bottom of the hole to protect the leather which is expected to last one year. The leather is pressed into the head by a vice at such an angle as to receive the hammer fair on the surface of the leather."
Is there anyone out there making these correct washers?
Also of note is that the drawings show a seven link chain, whereas originals I've seen have six links. Perhaps another example of cost cutting.
Charles Pinkham
Company D, Minnesota First
Lincoln, Lovejoy, and Abolition!
The following is from the War Department Notes of GC Holden, Assistant Superintendent of Stores which were transcribed from the original handwritten notes by Adrian Roads. They are found at "www.researchpress.co.uk/firearms/british/enfield/wdn_stopper.htm".
"The pad consisting of two bits of leather fastened together by fish glue. The under piece of leather has a hole in it for the nipple, and at the bottom of which there is a small thin disc of brass punched out of sheet brass and pressed into the bottom of the hole to protect the leather which is expected to last one year. The leather is pressed into the head by a vice at such an angle as to receive the hammer fair on the surface of the leather."
Is there anyone out there making these correct washers?
Also of note is that the drawings show a seven link chain, whereas originals I've seen have six links. Perhaps another example of cost cutting.
Charles Pinkham
Company D, Minnesota First
Lincoln, Lovejoy, and Abolition!
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