Help ID a peculiar mule ear rifle

Is there a percussion cap setup that didn't use nipples? I've never seen an action like this one and would appreciate any info you can share. Recently I bought a gorgeous handmade rifle with a side hammer (mule ear) action. Upon close inspection I saw that the flash hole does not have a percussion cap nipple.

It doesn't look like the nipple was removed or ripped out. The flash hole doesn't appear to have threads- if you drag a tweezers across the inside you don't encounter any threads.

The hammer does have some extra material on it but it doesn't suggest (to me anyway) that the nipple somehow fused to the striker and came apart- if that happened where is the damage to the flash hole and surrounding area? The photo above shows inlay work right up to the flash hole. Here is a look at the hammer:

Here are a couple more photos of the rifle - incredible detail on this piece.

It sounds very interesting but the pictures cannot be seen.

Is there a percussion cap setup that didn't use nipples? I've never seen an action like this one and would appreciate any info you can share. Recently I bought a gorgeous handmade rifle with a side hammer (mule ear) action. Upon close inspection I saw that the flash hole does not have a percussion cap nipple.

It doesn't look like the nipple was removed or ripped out. The flash hole doesn't appear to have threads- if you drag a tweezers across the inside you don't encounter any threads.

The hammer does have some extra material on it but it doesn't suggest (to me anyway) that the nipple somehow fused to the striker and came apart- if that happened where is the damage to the flash hole and surrounding area? The photo above shows inlay work right up to the flash hole. Here is a look at the hammer:

Here are a couple more photos of the rifle - incredible detail on this piece.

Thanks for the heads up- it should work now

I don't know much about early cappers, but that mite be a pill lock ? Like an explosive capsule fits in hole & hammer point smacks it...Tom google it ?

Tom Knight said:

a pill lock ?

Click to expand...

That would be my guess from what I can see.




William Alexander

I haven't seen a lock like that but that is a wonderful patchbox. Can we see the rest of this rifle please?

My vote is also for the pill lock. Never saw one in person. https://books.google.com/books?id=...6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=pill lock ignition&f=false

Will post more pics and details tomorrow

Pill lock, they were found on underhammers too.

That appears to be a very handsome and high quality rifle, we hope you can post more photos.

You can find a detailed discussion of pill locks as applied to underhammers in "The Pictorial History of the Underhammer Gun" by Herschel Logan (1960) which is readily available specially on that evil auction site. His discussion begins on page 16 and continues to page 20 and you will see line drawings and photos of pill lock underhammers in the book. There is also a description of the making of pills in that section including using cap gun caps in place of the pills.

I too would like to see more pictures. The builder sure wanted to make sure that patch box didn't fall off, never seen so many screws. Very interesting. Like we have all heard " if only that gun could talk".

It almost looks like the nipple is installed on the hammer side, is that flats I see on the base of it?

I am in agreeance with Tom, reckon it is a pill lock.

I look forward to seeing more pictures of this interesting rifle! The patchbox looks like a bullet and opens from the side! Any ideas as to a maker?

On page 114 of Greener ' s book, the gun and it's development there is a sidelock hammer with plunger and hole where the primer pan would be

Thanks for all the input from anyone. I will post more photos soon - in the meantime here are some more details on the rifle, Any ideas on age or maker would be greatly appreciated.

Spring loaded patch box with release on butt of gun near heel
Brass barrel bands on each end of barrel
Bbl 15/16 across flats
About 32 caliber

Thanks again to everyone here for all the information. I'm looking for copies of the books mentioned here as I peruse local gun shows. Here are more photos- if someone could please help further identify this piece (approximate age and maker) I would really appreciate it.

Probably uses a .22 blank cartridge of some type or something similar.

"Probably uses a .22 blank cartridge of some type or something similar."

Nope. Google pill lock. They used a small pellet of priming compound often held in with beeswax or tallow.