So I occasionally look (and dream) at originals (BP rifles) and I see from time to time percussion rifles with a brass collar between the hammer and the nipple with the hammer down on the collar and a brass chain leading to the trigger guard (would that chain be noisy while still hunting?) ..
I had always assumed that it was to allow rifles/muskets to be carried loaded and capped and was a work around to have the cap in place for weapons with no half cock ..
Yet it has occurred to me that I am seeing on rifles that I know have half cocks ..or maybe they "once did" ??
Or maybe the weapon owner feels the collar-stop-guard--- or whatever it is called was both a better "safety" than half cock and in the bargain gets some added protection for the percussion cap ??
What other value does the above mentioned thingabob have that I have missed??
Bear
I had always assumed that it was to allow rifles/muskets to be carried loaded and capped and was a work around to have the cap in place for weapons with no half cock ..
Yet it has occurred to me that I am seeing on rifles that I know have half cocks ..or maybe they "once did" ??
Or maybe the weapon owner feels the collar-stop-guard--- or whatever it is called was both a better "safety" than half cock and in the bargain gets some added protection for the percussion cap ??
What other value does the above mentioned thingabob have that I have missed??
Bear