Enfield nipple protector, old type

[fahnenschmied]

In a search for obscure odds and ends, I stumbled across this item from a publication from 1854...

http://books.google.com/books?id=r5GOX5rnehUC&pg=PA99&dq=%22nipple+guard%22&hl=en&ei=qyMkTKiwLYO0lQeRi6GBAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22nipple%20guard%22&f=false

I did a double take at the illustration, thinking it looked like a bit of elastic. I also wonder where the triangle and loop I took off an old snap cap I lost years ago got off to...

Dave Stone

[Craig L Barry]

Re: Enfield nipple protector, old type

This article is referring to English arms of an earlier pattern, the Brown Bess derivatives with percussion locks.
Note the locks are the "hook" type (no tumbler link) and the barrel has the fasteners on the bottom side as this
older style did not utilize barrel bands.

The later P-53 used the chain and snapcap. Elastic was in use (certainly) by the 1840s, I believe it
was used in side panels for womens shoes.

[fahnenschmied]

Re: Enfield nipple protector, old type

I realized now I meant to type "English" instead of "Enfield". There is, however, much of interest in these articles - a mention of the Austrian musket states that they are "varnished" with turpentine and linseed oil, "like the French". Also, I have never seen an original sear spring vice like the one pictured. Wasn't shocked to see elastic - just wasn't expecting to see it on a nipple protector.

[Bill]

Re: Enfield nipple protector, old type

- a mention of the Austrian musket states that they are "varnished" with turpentine and linseed oil, "like the French".

There is a method of finishing gun stocks called "French Finish". You take shellac and linseed oil in separate containers and use your hand and fingers to rub the oil and shellac into the wood. I have used this method to finish modern weapons and you get a beautiful translucent, almost glasslike finish. I doubt this method was used on military weapons. It takes weeks to get a final product, not to mention what it does to the skin on your hands!

My guess these Austrian muskets were just "painted" with linseed oil, thinned with turpentine.

[fahnenschmied]

Re: Enfield nipple protector, old type

I've done a "French Polish" on the stock of one of my little Flobert rifles, done with linseed oil and shellac, but that was a very quick finish, didn't take long at all.
I wouldn't have thought of linseed oil and turpentine as a "varnish" - yet sometimes people will "varnish" something with "shellac"....