British East India Company Model F Percussion Musket

[painter777]

Iron and steel (Magnetic) are much more susceptible to the corrosive influence of wood than (Non Magnetic) like aluminium, copper or brass.

"Aragorn243
Something between moisture, the wood and the iron in the steel. There are brass pins which are as good as new and the brass fittings don't have any issues either. "

Have you had a chance to clear the barrel of the sticky 'substance' ?

Also: Has your shooting teams had their first meet yet?

Just curious,
Charlie-Painter777

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[henry r]

If you weld, the tip of a bottle opener (cork screw) welded on a suitable rod should do the trick of snagging what is up the bore.

For the main spring, assuming it is a leaf spring, a gunsmith with experience in old shotguns should be able to make you one.

As with all of your projects, I'm looking forward to how this progresses.

[browningautorifle]

This one's going to be very interesting, see how it turns out...

[Aragorn243]

I am just amazed at how the steel/rust just eats away so much wood. There are brass pins holding the cleaning rod guides in place and they are pristine. This is going to be slow going for a bit as I started coaching rifle on Friday and deer season is coming fast. I did get the last steel out of it today, there is a pin which holds the brass butt plate on along with the two screws. I'll have to fill all those areas with something, probably epoxy in the screw holes and wood along the expose areas. The cleaned wood color is a lot closer in color to my repair plugs than the gahandra was. But this has a lot more repairs to be done. Here are some photos of the markings.



Two crowns are faint on the left side.



This is the LACY and JR











This is underside of the barrel, near the rear, probably worst erosion of metal. I can't really read any of it, not enough letters.

[WarPig1976]

A bullet puller. Screws into your cleaning rod.
CVA Black Powder Bullet Puller 50 Cal - MPN: AC1461

[Aragorn243]

I saw a photo of a tool a fellow made for one of these muskets. It was similar to a chisel tip fastened to the end of a long rod. I don't think a bullet puller would work because there isn't anything to grap onto. Whatever is in there is somewhat soft and the cleaning rod sinks into it. Could be old grease and I may try just soaking it in something. This is a smootbore, large caliber 70ish or something like that.

[browningautorifle]

Could be old grease

Try boiling water...melt it out. Could be sheep dip...

[WarPig1976]

You have an air compressor? Piece of steel fuel line rigged to the tip of the blow gun thingy,,,,blow it out.

[painter777]

Well...... since the hood is up...
Try bending 1 or 2 fishing hooks straight, then attach to a thin enough dowel rod. Might be enough bite with the hook's barb to pull up a sample.
Or A shop vac having the cone attachment taped to a length of hose might also pull something up.
I remember my Father pulling a piece of cork ball from a old muzzle loader.... No idea why it was in there.

Good luck Aragorn

CH-P777

[Aragorn243]

Here's my crazy idea and mainly because I have it on hand. I'm going to take a section of 1/2 copper tubing and cut a couple of angled teeth into the end of it so I can twist it around in there. If it is soft and mushy, I'll dry melting it out. If it's paper crap, hopefully it will snag and come out. I don't think I'll be able to do it until the holiday weekend which I am really looking forward to right now. Rifle is super hectic. I have about 20 first years with no experience shooting competitively. Most are OK but a few are the usual major problems. One kid hasn't even figured out he has to look THROUGH the rear sight before pulling the trigger. My varsity squad is looking pretty decent so far and our first match is over two weeks away and it is an easy one. Second match will be tough.