Vent pick

[Wes/Tex]

Keep your eye out on the road for a mashed porcupine. Lifetime supply of vent picks (yes, they do work).

Some old rifles had twin loops under the cheek piece to hold quill, feather or metal vent pick. This particular rifle was made by the House brothers, world famous for their masterful creations. How may originals had this feather is unknown but I've seen a number of originals over the years so equipped.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/52/5e/97/525e97efd04beec8b839e920d2869437.jpg

 

[George]

Some old rifles had twin loops under the cheek piece to hold quill, feather or metal vent pick.

Also some modern replicas, like this...



Spence

 

[simonbeans]

Here are some images of period (18th century) picks, "prickers", "priming wires" from George Neumann's Collector's Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, 1975, pp. 264-265. They look pretty simple to me. Like maybe a piece of wire, (paper clip)?

 

[Wes/Tex]

You betcha. Have seen some interesting adaptations on modern built rifles including one that had a small hole drilled from the bottom of the butt up about 2/3rds of the way to the tang of the butt plate.

 

[Rifleman1776]

don't use music/spring steel wire

:shocked2: Why would ye say that?
Music/spring wire is what I use. Don't worry about wearing the vent hole with the little contact the wire has with it.
However, whatever you do, DO NOT use drill rod. :nono: It is brittle and will break.

 

[PaulN/KS]

NICE! :thumbsup:
I'm often losing mine so just use a paper clip... :redface:

 

[LRB]

Drill rod comes annealed, and is not brittle until someone hardens it.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Drill rod comes annealed, and is not brittle until someone hardens it.

Dunno. But, I do know I have a very nice scrimshawed bone handle for a vent pick. The drill rod pick broke off flush with the bone shortly after I acquired it. Now a pretty but useless item.

 

[hawkthrower]

Well, it would seem that the " expert " doesn't like it when someone shows him documentation. Wonder where him went to so fast? :blah:

 

[Black Hand]

Well, it would seem that the " expert " doesn't like it when someone shows him documentation. Wonder where him went to so fast? :blah:

If you are referring to me, please keep your rude comments to yourself. :shake: :shake: After all, you appear to have nothing of substance to add by way of documentation...

As shown (and as I mentioned) - a simple wire was common as a pick/pricker/etc. The lower 2 items are combination tools of sorts and are somewhat outside our discussion. Not one antler-handled hat pin as a vent-pick to be seen.

 

[chawbeef]

Hoo doggies, I shoulda got the popcorn out. I never woulda thought my question coulda started such a feces storm. I will try not to stir it up so much in the future. My apologies to all who may have been ruffled...............Daniel

 

[smo]

I never woulda thought my question coulda started such a feces storm.

Saw it , right off :shake: :idunno:

 

[smo]

double post :redface:

 

[Rifleman1776]

I would think they used whatever was available .

Locust thorn, awl, feather etc. :thumbsup:

Ye took the words right outa my keyboard. :wink: Yeppers. We like pretty things today. A locust thorn, stuck in yer hatband is a perfect 'go to' tool for a pick, vent, teeths, etc. Sharpening a piece of bone works also. I have one made from a male coon 'appendage' bone. Whatever works, go fer it. Do yer own thang.

 

[ghostdncr]

Well, I had a paper clip and a file available. Not even vaguely PC, but it works great...

 

[Black Hand]

Hoo doggies, I shoulda got the popcorn out. I never woulda thought my question coulda started such a feces storm. I will try not to stir it up so much in the future. My apologies to all who may have been ruffled...............Daniel

No worries Daniel. If you don't ask, you don't know.

As you can tell, I have a problem with willful ignorance and those who are purveyors of misinformation that refuse to be educated. In my experience, disagreement can be a stop on the way to knowledge...

 

[Wes/Tex]

Totally agree...and Daniel, don't worry, this isn't near the 'catastrophic' level some fracases have reached here! As long as Claude or Zonie or any admins haven't had to close it down, you ain't even close! :wink: :rotf:

 

[Zonie]

Ba-ha-ha !!!

I figured if I let it go on for a few more pages it might get someone interested in reading some of old Will Shakespeare's writings.

You know.

"Much Ado About (almost) Nothing"

:rotf: :rotf:

 

[Black Hand]

As the saying goes - The devil is in the details....

I'm often surprised as to how significant these small details can be. They can make the difference between a good impression and a great impression.

 

[Claude Mathis]

Ba-ha-ha !!!

I figured if I let it go on for a few more pages it might get someone interested in reading some of old Will Shakespeare's writings.

You know.

"Much Ado About (almost) Nothing"

:rotf: :rotf:

No kidding. It's obvious from early drawings that they used wire. I use a small piece of wire and I doubt I'll live long enough to enlarge the hole using it. There are things I worry about, but this isn't one of them. :wink: