Upside down?

[hotfxr]

I have a rather strange question for you gunsmith types out there. If a percussion cap( or I guess a flintlock) firearm that has double set triggers (and that pesky little fly) is held upside down, should the tumbler engage the hammer or will the fly hanging down prevent the hammer from setting on half cock, full cock, or both? I only ask this because I have two that catch and two that don't and I do not know enough to know which is right. It's a long story that lead to this question, let's just say it was late, a friend bought a new Traditions Kentucky rifle and Trapper pisto (that won't engage upside down) and we found Red Badger's jug.

[Red Badger]

I do not know the answer to the question --- But in the interest of safety must point out - guns and Booze do not mix EVER!  when the jug comes out the guns get locked up!

I have lost to many friends to unloaded guns and booze

[hotfxr]

I do not know the answer to the question --- But in the interest of safety must point out - guns and Booze do not mix EVER!  when the jug comes out the guns get locked up!

I have lost to many friends to unloaded guns and booze

Well said, I could not agree more. For clarification's sake I should point out that the discussion started long after said firearms were locked up and the only danger to us was losing the ability to stand up straight and the sudden urge to speak in foreign languages. What did you have in those jugs anyway?

And a side note. My buddy is a hardcore hunter and one of the best shots I know, but this is his first foray into the muzzleloader arena. So as I going over everything I could think of in the idiosyncrasies pertaining to the ancient black powder arts for the newly indoctrinated, I was able to use my favorite safety BP safety demonstration. This involves a 100 gr. pile of BP in the middle of the driveway and an angle grinder on a piece of metal 20 ft away. Just kinda aimed the sparks in that direction and "POOF" a mushroom cloud rises up. Gets the point across without having to say a word.

[Hanshi]

I can offer no help as well.  But I do know that in guns with a single trigger the fly (a flint lock) can cause all manner of deviltry.  I have a single trigger pistol and the fly would catch the cock every time the trigger was pulled resulting in a "catch" at half cock that slowed the cock down so much it was only a sometimes shooter.  A friend removed said fly and life is once more satisfying.

[bubba.50]

I was gonna do a little research to try to help ya out but, the blood rushed to my head & I got dizzy tryin' to shoot upside down . luck & have a good'en, bubba.

[Watauga]

  We need windwalker_au to answer this one, they shoot upside down in Australia all the time.  

[pilgrim]

           

[Red Badger]

We need windwalker_au to answer this one, they shoot upside down in Australia all the time.  

You need to apologize for that remark!   

[Hanshi]

We need windwalker_au to answer this one, they shoot upside down in Australia all the time.  

I almost made a boo boo; I thought you said "skinwalker"  Lucky me, I don't have to shape shift after all. 

[45 Bravo]

I knew a guy in Alexandria la, that used to build and sell custom flintlocks all around the world.
($1600 each back in the 1980's)
He  would show it off at the black powder matches by loading it, priming it, then turn the rifle upside down and fire it.

So it can actually be done.

[Hawken50]

   Ok  question kept me up tonight. lol  I tried all 3 of my rifles with double set triggers.@ TC and one Ardesa All worked the same upside down.
      Now if  i can just figured out why i have a headache.?

[Rev]

Maybe if you just turned the RIFLE upside down? Just sayin'...

[gunmaker]

Those rascally Brits wouldn't except a flint gun unless it fired upside down......I've seen a number of original flint underhammers....German mostly....

[hotfxr]

So what y'all are saying is, unless I am hanging by my knees from a tree in Australia, shooting behind me with a mirror and my thumb in my right eye, the hammer should set at half and full cock. I guess that this is another fine case of poetic justice along with operator error and the whole lock & triggers on the offending (not firing) firearms need to be adjusted and since I am obviously no longer qualified to do said simple adjustments, I should just give all my muzzleloaders to Red Badger, my dogs to Mongrel, my Harley's to the local Club, register as a Democrat, and open a fruit stand in San Francisco. 



I don't think so Tim! 

[Red Badger]

No just give everything to me and I'll divy it out to the faithfull.....