Safety inspections

[craigj0369]

Hello YaAll.
I have many years of experience with owning and firing vintage pieces. In the past I resided near a well experienced traditional muzzleloading firearm gunmaker. I have had him inspect vintage pieces for safety prior to firing. Well I no longer have such access. So I am interested to hear from those of you who have experience inspecting original flintlock pieces for safe firing condition. I just acquired a mid to late 1700's Novak built Austrian side-by-side flintlock double in nominal 60 cal. The piece is in overall working order. Both locks work well and throw good spark. The bores are darkish but show no horrid visual issues as I lighted them up with a bore light. So what would ya all look for?

 

[user 48679]

I would clean the bore as best I could, then dismount the barrel to eyeball it any holes someone might have drilled into it, then ensure the breechplug is in likewise good (tight) condition. (also checking for a plugged vent)

I would also extend my inspection to the wood, looking for crack(s).

If all looked good, I would load it with a light charge and do a remote test fire (like securing the gun to a vehicle tire, flat on the ground.)

Even if all went well, I would respect it's age (metal can fatigue over the centuries) and shoot only light loads through it.

YMMV

 

[craigj0369]

Thanks. I have fired many old guns including a 16th Century wheellock with no problems. A number of them have been 1700's vintage flinters in 60, 62, and 8 bore. This is my first vintage double gun to inspect.

 

[R Ellis]

Do the ring test on Damascus barrels

 

[SDSmlf]

The bores are darkish but show no horrid visual issues as I lighted them up with a bore light. So what would ya all look for?

Get a borescope.

 

[R Ellis]

Get a borescope.

I recently bought a borescope and now know the bores that look bright and shiny with a bore lite are not as good as I though before wow what a difference sometimes I wish I Hadden Looked

 

[craigj0369]

Yeah that may be a real buzz kill!

 

[RicM]

Pietro you nailed it. Ive done the same. Also a bore scope will help too. I went one step further on one small PC .410 ball rifle that I just wasn’t 100% on yet. I mounted it in a wood vise, the old string on the trigger routine with a light blank load and took cover. All was good.

 

[springfield art]

I once obtained a M1863 US Musket that had been mounted on a wall someplace. Upon removing the barrel, there was a hole drilled in the bottom of it, obviously an attempt to "de-wat" the thing. So always check all areas!