I have always required that the touch-hole be drilled prior to my becoming the owner, even when it comes to imported pieces. In fact when it comes to muskets, I often get them "reenactment ready", meaning not only do they have a drilled touch-hole, but there is a flash guard installed on the lock as well.
I know some folks get undrilled touch-holes when they live in Europe, as most of those countries require you to pay for the proof testing IF you have an unproofed piece with a drilled touch-hole. There is a time limit to comply to get it done. Plus I am told there is a hefty fine if you're found with an unproofed musket with the touch-hole drilled. If you're not ready to pay for the testing just yet, OR if you are just buying a wall hanger, then why go through that hassle ??
I only buy a piece from the seller which is intended to be fired and sold to me "ready to fire", for if I drilled the touch hole, then I have converted it from "non-firing" to "firing". Having done that, if for some reason the barrel failed when shooting and people were harmed, I'm responsible for "converting" the piece, not necessarily the seller of the undrilled gun.
LD
My loads are so hot, my gun is proofed each time I fire it. Just kidding. Just a joke. Not really. Smiley face.If you buy a non-drilled musket, sold as a decorator or just a marching around the fields shoulder decoration kind of thing, then they are free, in some European countries, from any form of registration. In fact, in most European countries they can be sold to anybody over age 18. However, drilling them through so that they can be fired, in SOME countries, like the UK, requires that they are registered on some kind of license, or, in UK, certificate. Failure to have such a gun - classed as a shotgun here in UK because of the smooth bore - on a shotgun certificate, can be the cause of endless trouble, But only IF it is the only one you have. Once you have a shotgun certificate here in UK, for a gun with a barrel more than 24" long, you can have as many as you like, or can afford.
The BIG non-no is then selling it to another person without Proof with a capital P. That IS a serious offence, with massive fines and usually seizure of the gun for destruction. ALL shootable firearms in the European countries signed up to the CIP MUST be Proofed before being sold to a third party, and the burden of that falls on the owner to have it done, and yes, it costs money, but not very much.
If I had a custom gun made in the USA, it would be 'proofed' by the builder, and I could shoot it. But if I then tired of it and wanted to sell it to another person, I would have to pay to have it Proofed. That is the law, and has been so since around the time of King Henry VIII.
I guess for re-enactment it does not matter where the touch hole is, or how slow the ignition is, as the piece is just a smoke and noise making device. If one plans to shoot or hunt with the piece then there is a science as to locating the hole for fast ignition.
Which one did you have a bad experience with?Indian guns with or with out a touch hole are something I would not waste my money on.
Even an American made kit? If so better hope the pan is inletted in the right spot then.I wouldn't buy one I had to drill. When I buy something that's meant to be fired, I want it ready to fire!
Enter your email address to join: