New Years Tradition

[Craig L Barry]

I have an unusual New Years tradition, but one I think would be beneficial to share. I put a new percussion cone on all my muskets whether they appear to need it or not. If the cone is still serviceable, which they usually are, it goes in the implements pouch of my cartridge box as a spare. The percussion cone is the most neglected piece of equipment and has the potential to cause substantial grief in the event of clogging or malfunction. It takes the brunt of the force from repeated blows by the hammer and can become slightly flattened which you may not realize until a percussion cap gets stuck on it. Replacing that inexpensive part annually ensures another season of no cone related misfires, or any at all presuming the weapon is otherwise well maintained. By performing this simple piece of maintenance on New Years day every year, I know the musket is ready to go when the first event of next year rolls around.

Note to Curt Heinrich-Schmidt, the Yeck US 1861 percussion cone is 5/16 x 24, the thread size of originals. The threads look a lot like metric, but aren't.

Here is a chart of common thread sizes:

Parker Hale...................................5/16 x 18
Euroarms/Pedersoli Enfield..........5/16 x 20
Armi Sport (last 20 yrs)................8 x 1 mm
Pedersoli/Original US 1861..........5/16 x 24

[Jimmayo]

Re: New Years Tradition

Nothing like having a different thread size cone for each musket. Have to make sure you use the correct box with the correct cone for each musket. Nice to have all the thread sizes written down in one post.

[Craig L Barry]

Re: New Years Tradition

At least here are "most" of the common sizes. The point is we all know gents who have the same percussion cone doing duty for years upon years and never give it a moments thought. Powder is going to get wet, a tin of percussion caps can contain a few duds but the one thing you can control is the condition of this one essential piece of equipment. So if you haven't replaced the cone in recent memory, do so and you will ensure the day will not be ruined by something minor you could have avoided.

There is a chapter containing quite a bit more on the subject in The Civil War Musket: A Handbook for Historical Accuracy but coming off the cold, wet 152nd Anniversary programs at STRI, it seemed worth a mention in passing. Put it this way, the problem came up for a few of the lads out there who were trying to pry off percussion caps stuck on the cone with their pocket knife. I thought to myself, yes...time for a new percussion cone before that's happening to me. No thanks. I'd rather avoid it.

[coastaltrash]

Re: New Years Tradition

Now I've got three Enfields I need to do that to!

[Craig L Barry]

Re: New Years Tradition

First decent weather of the New Year today...so I oiled my gun stock. Do that every year, too. Put a coat of boiled linseed oil on the wooden gun stock of your musket. Work it into the grain and let it dry in the sun.

Take care to dispose of the leftover oil soaked rags properly. I burned 'em in the fire pit.