What is it ?

[Steve Adams]

The other day I found a Thompson Center .50 cal. that looks like a Hawkin. It's an older gun no warnings on the barrel... Instead of the normal nipple for 11 caps there is a nipple with a screw on cap that contains what looks like a firing pin. I tried a couple of 11 caps and no bang. Is this an eraly 209 type nipple? or what. Cannot put pictures up yet. Any help would be great.

 

[misher]

Those early adaptors used rifle primers.

 

[gordy]

I don't believe TC sold the rifle with the modified nipple , but if you look in an older DGW Cat. there is a unit that uses center fire primers that screws in place of the factory nipple. :hmm: This increased the intensity of the ignition flame and also waterproofed the flame channel . When you say , No Warnings , are you referring to " Black Powder Only" Read the manual before using ??? :hmm: :thumbsup:

 

[jethro224]

Probably is an early T/C Hawken.

You should be able to just screw in a regular nipple and use #11 caps. That's what I would do. I don't see the need for the extra time, trouble, and expense of using the CF primers. #11 caps work just fine for me when I do my part.

To post pics, you need to get an account at an on-line photo-hosting site. Then you use the URL for your pics to get them here. Sounds more complicated than it really is.
Many members here, myself included, use www.photobucket.com as a photo-hosting site. It is a free account. Load your pic there, copy the bottom one off the drop-down menu for your pic, then paste it in your post here. Easy as pie. :thumbsup:

 

[mr.flintlock]

Some years ago someone marketed an adapter that sounds like what you have. The screw off collar was removed and a small center fire rifle primer was placed in the recess then the collar and little firing pin replaced and the rifle was ready to fire in the normal manner.

 

[mazo kid]

Yeah, I remember those. I always thought that it was just another small part to get lost and render the gun useless until another part or nipple could be found. Now I am mostly using flintlocks and see even less need for that contraption.

 

[Steve Adams]

Yes that is exactly what it looks like and will try a primer in it. Just tried it and that is what it is. Thanks to everyone. By the way it did go bang and was easy to remove.

 

[Pete44ru]

There used to be a fair demand for those primer devices, back in the 70's, as it helped make a muzzle-loader more rain-proof - a consideration in a state that had a 3 or 4 day ML season at the time.

IIRC, the brand name was Accra-something - but I could be misremembering.

.

 

[Steve Adams]

Thanks to all. Will let know how it shoots.

 

[mjones1579]

I like those old doodads, if you don't want it send it to me and I'll trade you some #11 nipples for it. :grin:

 

[Steve Adams]

No I think I'll hang on to it and keep it in my stash .