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  • Percussion Caps

    Does anyone know the skinny on musket caps? I know we discussed this before the crash but can't remember the results.

    I tried to call around to get caps for a bounty for an event a friend is putting on. Best I could find is Dixie Gun Works who has a limit of two tins for RWS (german) caps. Navy are no longer available, I understand for importation reasons. I found a RWS website but all the phone numbers are disconnected.

    Anyone know what is going on?

    Thanks in advance.

    Will Eichler
    Will Eichler

    Member, Company of Military Historians
    Saginaw City Light Infantry
    Hubbard Winsor Lodge #420
    Stony Creek Lodge #5

    Civil War Digital Digest
    http://civilwardigitaldigest.com/

    Historic Fort Wayne Coalition
    www.historicfortwaynecoalition.com

  • #2
    Re: Percussion Caps

    I was at the Tunnel Hill event this weekend and there was not a cap to be found anywhere around there. Luckily we had enough to share, but our next few events are going to be kind of tight. If anybody can pull a couple of rabbits out of their hat, I would sure appreciate it. Thomas N. Rachal.
    Thomas N. Rachal

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    • #3
      Re: Percussion Caps

      I was also trying to order caps. I did get some from Dixie Gun Works. I was told that the German Cap maker has changed names and owners and they should be up and running in a few weeks.

      Claude Sinclair
      Claude Sinclair
      Palmetto Battalion

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Percussion Caps

        Will,
        I've had success at Bass Pro Shops and Cabella's
        Dave Prince
        Dave Prince

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        • #5
          Re: Percussion Caps

          My understanding is that Navy Arms is completely kaput and out of business. The German issue is that the importer is out of business but that the caps are still made and it is just a matter of time before the supply is back. At 1st Manassas a few weks back, a few Sutlers had them but they were close to $20 per tin and limited to one per person. I was told by a sutler who I tend to trust that the reason for the cost was that most of them were paying retail to get them from gun stores all over the country and having them shipped. I did get lucky and find one tin of the old style German (250 per tin) at a local gun shop and bought 2 from Dixie (My son and I both reenact fairly regularly) which should see us through about a year of events just in case. By then I would hazard a guess that the import problem will be resolved. Meanwhile the best I've found is through Dixie.

          Please, EVERYONE, be careful at events, especially streamer events as many of them have resorted to six winged CCI caps and I think we all know what that issue is. There was a heated debate on one of the other sites (which I was involved in) regarding the use of the six winged caps. Personally, if someone around me starts firing six wings, I'm taking a hit and not returning to the field. I've been hit one too many times by the shrapnel from them.

          Robert Collett
          8th Fl /13th IN

          I see the signature line was lost in the crash also.
          Robert Collett
          8th FL / 13th IN
          Armory Guards
          WIG

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Percussion Caps

            I lucked up and found 3 German cans locally for only $7 each. I've been checking every little outdoor store I come across too.



            William Shifflet
            4th Va Cav Co D
            William L. Shifflett
            Valley Light Horse and Lord of Louisa



            "We are still expecting the enemy. Why dont he come?" -JEB Stuart

            In Memory of 3 Sox, 4th Va Cavalry horse, my mount, my friend. Killed in action January 9th, 2005.

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            • #7
              Re: Percussion Caps

              The price where I am has gone from $4.95 to $10.95 in two years, but I've not had any trouble getting them.
              [FONT=Times New Roman]Yours most respectfully, your obedient servant,[/FONT]
              [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
              [FONT=Times New Roman]R. L. ("Rob") Griffiths.[/FONT]
              [FONT=Times New Roman][I]Member, Civil War Preservation Trust.[/I][/FONT]
              [FONT=Times New Roman][I]Authentic Campaigner member since November 10th, 2004.[/I][/FONT]

              [FONT=Times New Roman][I]"I am not aware of ever having used a profane expletive in my life, but I would have the charity to excuse those who may have done so, if they were in charge of a train of Mexican pack mules at the time."[/I] - U. S. Grant[I].[/I][/FONT]

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              • #8
                Re: Percussion Caps

                Man, I must be really out of the loop if I didn't know about all this.

                I still have an unopened tin, and 10 cartridge bundles, so I don't think I'm going to start rioting yet. I am saddened that Navy caps are bust. I was really fond of those.
                - Pvt. S. Martin Aksentowitz
                1st California Co. F
                Carleton's Cannibals

                [CENTER][COLOR="Red"]Angst kommt; da werden sie Heil suchen, aber es wird nicht zu finden sein.- HESEKIEL 7.25[/COLOR][/CENTER]

                [CENTER]"To day we. . . stopped a few minutes to examine the crumbling ruins the walls were defaced with Texians traitors names and Texican Braggodocia but nary a Texican thare to answer to his name or make good his writing on the wall."
                -Eli W. Hazen, 1st California Vol. Inf.[/CENTER]

                [RIGHT][COLOR="Silver"]"Credo Quio Absurdum" - ECV[/COLOR][/RIGHT]

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Percussion Caps

                  Worse case scenario, in the future all we can get is 6 wing caps from CCI, what happens then. Do we hang it up, or deal with the schrapnel ?
                  [SIZE=3][COLOR=DarkOliveGreen][B]Howard Davis[/B][/SIZE][/COLOR]
                  [I]Retired[/I]

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Percussion Caps

                    Originally posted by HighPrvt
                    Worse case scenario, in the future all we can get is 6 wing caps from CCI, what happens then. Do we hang it up, or deal with the schrapnel ?

                    I really don't think that will happen since the caps are being made just not imported at this time. I think worst case scenario is that someone will supply the demand, simple economics. This is really no different than the short supply of powder we had a couple of years ago.

                    As to the shrapel question, I for one will not deal with the shrapnel as no hobby is worth my eyesight. I would simply move on to non-firing living histories.
                    Robert Collett
                    8th FL / 13th IN
                    Armory Guards
                    WIG

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Percussion Caps

                      I have been at events for the last two weekends in a row, not a cap to be found. I spoke to a sutler (He's a streamer sutler) and he stated that do to import reasons he can no longer get the four wing Dynamit Nobel's from Germany that we all like to use. "What is left on the market is all there will ever be...", is what I was told from several sutlers and venders.
                      The brigade that I am in has banded the use of the 6 wing CCI cap, but has resently taken a look around and may resort to the use of the CCI cap until the import problem is solved, or another cap can be found.

                      Ken Zimmer
                      17th Mo. Co. G
                      The Western Blues Mess

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Percussion Caps

                        I was standing right next to a man who had an eye injury from a six wing CCI while at Pamplin Park. Lost 60 % of his vision in that eye. He left the hobby after that. That happened 5-6 years ago before we knew better. Now we do and to use them today is utter insanity. Thank goodness NPS and most state parks have banned them.

                        Rick Atwood
                        Rick Atwood
                        23rd Reg't
                        Va. Vol. Infy

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Percussion Caps

                          Originally posted by rick atwood
                          I was standing right next to a man who had an eye injury from a six wing CCI while at Pamplin Park. Lost 60 % of his vision in that eye. He left the hobby after that. That happened 5-6 years ago before we knew better. Now we do and to use them today is utter insanity. Thank goodness NPS and most state parks have banned them.

                          Rick Atwood
                          Amen. At Raymond II I had the distinct view of my own six-wing percussion cap flying toward my face. I moved my head enough from reflex that the UFO sliced my cheek and upper lip -- had I not "dodged," it was headed toward my left eye at a pretty fair rate of speed. I've had work done on my musket since then to ensure that the hammer is striking the cone correctly, but I'll never again use the soft copper (?), six-wing style.
                          Compared to the reenactor in blue farther down the line that morning, my injury wasn't serious.
                          Regards,
                          Paul Hadley
                          Lincoln, Neb.
                          Paul Hadley

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Percussion Caps

                            Originally posted by FlatLandFed
                            At Raymond II I had the distinct view of my own six-wing percussion cap flying toward my face. I moved my head enough from reflex that the UFO sliced my cheek and upper lip -- had I not "dodged," it was headed toward my left eye at a pretty fair rate of speed.
                            Let's not forget that NO brand of caps is without hazard.

                            Not long ago, I fired off the most common cap used, and a piece struck my face, and I had to remove a piece that had imbedded itself, and drew blood, from the cheek of my comrade standing next to me.

                            The four winger's are less hazardous, but by no means non-hazardous.
                            Bernard Biederman
                            30th OVI
                            Co. B
                            Member of Ewing's Foot Cavalry
                            Outpost III

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Percussion Caps

                              Waaay back when I was a kid, I hunted with a cut-down original M1842 Springfield .69 musket. Since the original cone was ruined when I got it,I fitted a cone, and used the small #11 caps. I never had issues with poor ignition , and I don't think they fragmented,either (Of course, I was ramming live loads,too). I would hate to have to go to these,but it sounds like I may eventually have to. I do know that I am going to be very economical with the ones I do have for the time being,though...


                              Doug Price

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