Antique Nipple Replacements

[Dusty_Traveler]

G'morning gents.

I have spent a few hours over the last couple of days measuring nipples and searching the interwebz for replacements for a few antique rifles I have. Some of these original nipples have HUMONGUS fire channels compared to a modern nipple. They do not appear to be eroded, but rather, they have been enlarged? The holes are perfectly concentric.

The first was a simple 1/4-28. No issues there.

Next was a 12-28. Not many choices available for this one, but I was able to find a replacement that will work.

The next is for a D.H. Hilliard underhammer. This one is giving me the troubles. The OD of the nipple threads measure .280 with a pitch of 28. Just shy of 5/16". The threads in the barrel are crisp and do not appear to have much wear, to have been cross-threaded, or neglected.

The fire hole is a tad smaller than 1/16" but still very large by new production nipple standards. At this time, it does not seem to be affecting the accuracy much, but I would like to have a replacement on hand if anything were to happen to the original one. I would like to think a smaller hole would help with group size also.

Has anyone had any luck finding oddball sized nipples for your antique? Dixie Gun Works seems to have the widest selection of oversize diameters at 28 tpi in both brass and steel. They have a .275 and a .285.

I have zero experience installing oversized nipples. Would the .275 be too small? The .285 too big? Keep using the original till its just a nub? I welcome your opinions. Thanks!

 

[Uncle Miltie]

I buy proper nipples for my old original guns from The Log Cabin, as I have for many years. I can't stand to put Ampco or other modern nipples on a fine original gun.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

I buy proper nipples for my old original guns from The Log Cabin, as I have for many years. I can't stand to put Ampco or other modern nipples on a fine original gun.

I will check with them and report back. Thanks Unk!

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

Unk, After a search of "Nipple" at Log Cabin Shop, the online selection is the same as DGW. The nipples you have bought from them, are they of an odd size? Did they custom make your nipples?

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Unk, After a search of "Nipple" at Log Cabin Shop, the online selection is the same as DGW. The nipples you have bought from them, are they of an odd size? Did they custom make your nipples?

They have sizes and many things that are not on their web site: best to call and ask for Tom ( the gunsmith there) to discuss odd sizes.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

They have sizes and many things that are not on their web site: best to call and ask for Tom ( the gunsmith there) to discuss odd sizes.

Ahhh! Ok thank you!

 

[64Springer]

.275 would not be too small as long as it's 28TPI.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

@Uncle Miltie I just got off the phone with Tom.

Their selection was also between .275 and .285. I explained my situation and dimensions and right off the bat he suggested an AMPCO nipple of the .285 size. In his digging around, he also found a returned one that was marked as measuring .279, so I got that one along with a .285. The softer alloy of the AMPCO's allow for a 'swaging in' effect, and less stress on the original barrel threads. I agreed with his suggestion, and ordered them. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Sam squanch]

Old guns had stronger mainsprings. The result was the hammer nose sealed a little better, to theoretically keep the back blast at a minimum. No pinhole nipple holes for them, the old guys NEEDED them to go off to eat or live.

 

[Relic shooter]

G'morning gents.

I have spent a few hours over the last couple of days measuring nipples and searching the interwebz for replacements for a few antique rifles I have. Some of these original nipples have HUMONGUS fire channels compared to a modern nipple. They do not appear to be eroded, but rather, they have been enlarged? The holes are perfectly concentric.

The first was a simple 1/4-28. No issues there.

Next was a 12-28. Not many choices available for this one, but I was able to find a replacement that will work.

The next is for a D.H. Hilliard underhammer. This one is giving me the troubles. The OD of the nipple threads measure .280 with a pitch of 28. Just shy of 5/16". The threads in the barrel are crisp and do not appear to have much wear, to have been cross-threaded, or neglected.

The fire hole is a tad smaller than 1/16" but still very large by new production nipple standards. At this time, it does not seem to be affecting the accuracy much, but I would like to have a replacement on hand if anything were to happen to the original one. I would like to think a smaller hole would help with group size also.

Has anyone had any luck finding oddball sized nipples for your antique? Dixie Gun Works seems to have the widest selection of oversize diameters at 28 tpi in both brass and steel. They have a .275 and a .285.

I have zero experience installing oversized nipples. Would the .275 be too small? The .285 too big? Keep using the original till its just a nub? I welcome your opinions. Thanks!

The nipples on numerous original European rifles & pistols I've owned have had large open bases. Even if nipples are in mint condition I've always replace them for safety & hotter ignition with Treso nipples as all my original firearms were shooters.
Any mint guns I acquired got sold to non-shooter collectors.
I recently replaced the same type of large open base-hole nipple on a unique .70 cal. Swiss flint to percussion Jaeger, fortunately Treso had the perfect length nipple with threads that matched. Fortunately Treso makes standard & oversize threads for many of their nipples, big help when trying to match foreign threaded nipple holes.
Relic shooter
On occasion original nipple threads in the breech are corroded & will require opening up to the next size for a safe fit, not