Antique black powder gun nipples

[Appalachiannative]

My seem like a silly question but I've seen antique muskets and bp rifles for sale before and the nipples look awful. Are they threaded and there for replaceable like modern reproduction guns? Or should I say has anyone ever seen a real antique with a removable nipple?

 

[hawg]

My seem like a silly question but I've seen antique muskets and bp rifles for sale before and the nipples look awful. Are they threaded and there for replaceable like modern reproduction guns? Or should I say has anyone ever seen a real antique with a removable nipple?

They're all threaded but will most likely need heat and a good nipple wrench to get them out. Not one of those cheap wrenches.

 

[noelf2]

I have an antique Belgium made 410 SxS muzzle loader shotgun which looks as though the nipples are original. They are threaded and in good shape. When I got the gun, the right barrel was inoperable and that nipple was pristine. The left was obviously used, but not too bad to fit a cap on it. I don't know if any replacement nipples would fit it. There's a detailed accounting with pics of my adventure in getting this shotgun operable on TFL forum here:

https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=549868

 

[44 Dave]

There are suppliers that list by thread and length Side locks are not quite as fussy on length as a revolver.

 

[Appalachiannative]

Man I wish I joined this forum years ago! I've seen some real deal antiques that looked safe to fire but had caved in nipples and passed on them time after time

 

[hawg]

Man I wish I joined this forum years ago! I've seen some real deal antiques that looked safe to fire but had caved in nipples and passed on them time after time

In extreme cases they have to be drilled out and retapped but most will come out intact with some heat and a lot of cussing.

 

[Appalachiannative]

In extreme cases they have to be drilled out and retapped but most will come out intact with some heat and a lot of cussing.

Just like a spark plug in an old truck thats been sitting in the yard lol

 

[AR. Hillbilly]

My 1816 Springfield had a stuck nipple. I did as Hawg said and used heat. Turned a deep well 1/4” drive socket upside down and used vice grips on the socket. I then made a nipple wrench out of that socket.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Track of the Wolf has a wide selection of replacement nipples including some oversized ones for stuff that's worn a bit, worth looking at. I have a pending job to make an antique 1855 short barrel musket serviceable that has a squashed nipple. I gotta get it out and see what the thread size is then see what Track has.

 

[AR. Hillbilly]

Track of the Wolf has a wide selection of replacement nipples including some oversized ones for stuff that's worn a bit, worth looking at. I have a pending job to make an antique 1855 short barrel musket serviceable that has a squashed nipple. I gotta get it out and see what the thread size is then see what Track has.

I still can’t get the clean out screw out of my 1861. probably gonna have to drill it out

 

[hawg]

I still can’t get the clean out screw out of my 1861. probably gonna have to drill it out

Leave it in there. There's no need to take it out.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Product called Kroil might do it, it's a penetrating oil in a spray can. Seen it do some cool stuff.

 

[hawg]

Product called Kroil might do it, it's a penetrating oil in a spray can. Seen it do some cool stuff.

Yeah, Kroil is some good stuff.

 

[AR. Hillbilly]

Product called Kroil might do it, it's a penetrating oil in a spray can. Seen it do some cool stuff.

I use it on antique tractors. Yes very good stuff.

 

[AR. Hillbilly]

Leave it in there. There's no need to take it out.

I would but someone before me really uglied it up. still may leave it.