Babcock Open frame rifle.

[Colonial Boy]

Came across this whilst browsing and I’ve never seen one before and in my 70+ years of shooting I thought that I’d seen or read about every system, we live and learn!!.
Sorry that I can’t post a link but have a new computer and a new system to learn, but Google of the subject will bring plenty up.

 

[rafterob]

Not too long ago someone posted a picture similar to that. Very interesting concept.

 

[user 48679]

AND...….. it's an inline from the 1850's ! !

 

[hanshi]

Weird and then some!

 

[BS]

I have always thought Simple is Good!

 

[BS]

https://www.collectorsfirearms.com/products/48384-babcock-open-frame-percussion-rifle-al4754.html
Another style hammer.

 

[BS]

I have a brand new CVA 54 cal St Louis Hawken barrel that would look good on this gun.

 

[oldwood]

Was this contraption invented before eye protection was invented???

 

[BS]

Do you think a side splatter shield would affect the looks?

 

[appalichian hunter]

pretty neat how the trigger guard is also the main spring, very simple set up. As too a side shield that looks like it would be a pretty easy fix could make it out of a piece of thin brass or thin metal, perhaps a piviting door type of thing.

 

[BS]

I would not feel bad if I had to use this as a canoe paddle!

 

[appalichian hunter]

I dont know about that it seems like a interesting rifle, also with the open frame it probaly would not work well as a paddle.

 

[user 48679]

Do you think a side splatter shield would affect the looks?

How would the hammer be cocked once a side shield(s) is/are installed ?

 

[BS]

How would the hammer be cocked once a side shield(s) is/are installed ?

You would only need one side.

 

[Wildrangeringreen]

If the hammer had a deeply cupped face, I wouldn't think it would be any problem with cap fragments, at least no worse than any non-break inline-ignition guns. Most Percussion guns have little more than that and we think they're safe (look at doubles, where the cones are installed into the breech plug off to the side, in order to slim the gun up. Benefit to the "frame" is that you have a 1/2" wide steel strap between you and the cap. Doc. White's pull-cock inlines are almost identical to inlines that were made in the 1850's,60's and 70's, who's mechanics were loosely based on the Pauly guns, which were based on much earlier (1730's) inline Flintlocks. If you really felt the need to add a shield, you could put something like a "recoil shield" of a revolver on the backstrap, that would virtually eliminate all of the risk of fragments (to you), because of where your face is going to sit, about 7-10" behind, depending on LOP and how you stand. Pic of double is from Merz Antique Firearms, last two are from White Muzzleloading

 

[Loyalist Dave]

OK so if somebody produces the Babcock rifle again, OR the Babcock shotgun (Yes there is a surviving 8-bore out there with the same system) then it would likely become the exception to the rule on inlines here on the forum.

Perhaps the Tingle single shot pistol, or the TC rifle that is very similar would also qualify as one of the exceptions....., because they are very very similar to the Babcock in some folk's opinions....

But until that time, let's not wander down the slippery slope and start speaking about inlines, folks.

LD

 

[Wildrangeringreen]

It's not a "slippery slope" if it's talking about historical, traditional designs (and those based on them)... and just like that... the "trad bro's" tryna squash everything that doesn't meet their definition of "trad, bro". You see it on Archery Forums all the time lol. Just because it doesn't satisfy a Disney-Davy Crocket fantasy, doesn't mean it isn't traditional. This, right here, is why traditional muzzleloading is going to die off as a sport, most people aren't going to put up with the, as Doc White put it: "Traditional Extremists", and will either avoid ML'ing entirely, or just go the convenient route and pick up a fully modern version of what we do here.

 

[SmokepoleSam]

This is a traditional muzzleloading site and it says it in the rules you supposedly read when you signed up. If you prefer inlines then go to a different site that caters to them, don't try to change this one. This is a privately-owned site and the owner makes the rules not you or I. Have a nice day.

 

[Wildrangeringreen]

This is a traditional muzzleloading site and it says it in the rules you supposedly read when you signed up. If you prefer inlines then go to a different site that caters to them, don't try to change this one. This is a privately-owned site and the owner makes the rules not you or I. Have a nice day.

THESE ARE TRADITIONAL lol, like mule-ear and underhammers, they were never as popular as "conventional" sidelocks, but that doesn't make them modern either. That seems to be the problem, not to mention the constant discussions of percussion revolvers on this forum, which are NOT muzzle loaders, but rather, Kammerlader (chamber loaders) (inline ignition as well...gasp). In other words, people cherry picking what they want to consider "trad" and trying to exclude everything else, even if there is a basis for discussing it.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Sam, not that I disagree with you, but the original owner set the site as too the purely traditional side, but the site was sold was it not. Remeber when there were no advertisements in the header bar, they are not all advertisements purley devoted too the ultra traditional standards, there are items in the for sale section that are not traditional, So I guess what I am saying it all boils down too income generated for the site, perhaps it is time too loosen the reins a bit, He** if it generates intrest in the shooting of black powder weapons why not, perhaps there are ones who will migrate too the more traditional type weapons, we all started somewhere. Perhaps a re-structuring too include (GASP) The older breech loading black powder rifles,pistols and shot guns,sure there are sites devoted too those but you may be surprised how many shooters of those type weapons there are that would perhaps migrate too here.