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Storing flintlocks

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Joined
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Is it best when your rifle is going to sit for a while to have the hammer sitting in the "all the way forward" fired position? What is best for the lock parts, springs, sear etc. or leave it at half cock.
 
I leave the hammer in the fully forward(uncocked) position, and the frizzen open.
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I do the same. It might not matter much in the short run but keeping the springs stressed can cause problems down the road.
 
I agree and keep the cock & steel at rest though George Shumway said they where displayed in museums at half bent . per original plan but I don't agree as it makes sense to leave the springs at rest & cant hurt any that way. Nice Rifle pictured .
Rudyard
 
I agree and keep the cock & steel at rest though George Shumway said they where displayed in museums at half bent . per original plan but I don't agree as it makes sense to leave the springs at rest & cant hurt any that way. Nice Rifle pictured .
Rudyard
That is museums for display purposes. For real use rifle, all the way down. That is how I do it to take stress off sear and mainspring.
 
Hammer down, frizzen in the open position. I have stored all my flint rifles this way for a long, long time with no problem. I started this practice about 40 years ago and have had no problems with any springs.
I know this thread is about flintlocks, but I keep the hammer down on caplocks too.
 
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