Update: converting the percussion Harpers Ferry to flint
There was a discussion earlier in this thread about the feasibility of converting this latest Pedersoli product (the percussion Harpers Ferry pistol) back to the original flintlock design. The reason for doing this is that Pedersoli's longtime flint version is in .58 cal., and rifled, which is not authentic.
I talked to the Dixie Gun Works representative at the N-SSA Spring Nationals, a week ago, about this subject. According to her, the possibility of a flint version in .54 cal. has in fact been discussed with Pedersoli. Pedersoli is willing to produce these, but only if a distributor can be found to pre-order at least 200 units. Dixie, at least, is not prepared to go out on a limb to that extent. Prospects, then, for a factory flint version in .54 are dim.
So I decided to take the plunge and do the conversion myself, on a pair of the guns. (One of them has already been received.) It is very much doable. The following are some of the details.
First of all, the Pedersoli flint lock, which Dixie has in stock for $165, is a direct drop-in fit. The percussion drum simply unscrews from the barrel (use a decent-sized wrench).
Now, we come to the most difficult part of the job (which is really not that difficult). The threaded hole for the percussion drum must be filled, and a vent hole drilled. Pedersoli makes a vent hole liner which is a perfect fit in the hole -- threaded M8-1.25 metric. If only it was that easy. When this vent hole liner is installed, the vent hole is not concentric with the pan in the flint lock (it's slightly high and to the right). The only alternative is to make your own plug out of an automotive-grade M8-1.25 bolt, and drill a vent hole in it at the appropriate place. I'm using a bolt on which the threading does not go the full length, so that it can bottom out properly. For the length of the threaded portion, I'm copying the removed percussion drum. Then I'm making a screwdriver slot, and filing the outside surface of the plug flush with the barrel. The final step will be to center-punch and drill the vent hole, at approximately the 8 o'clock position in the plug.
The beauty of this is that it is all reversible. You can just switch the locks, and replace the vent plug with the percussion drum. You therefore can have either a flint or percussion gun, and change between them at will.
One thing that should be noted is that when Pedersoli made the percussion version, he kept the outside barrel profile of the .58 cal. rifled flint version. That means that the barrel wall thickness is greater than that of the original .54 cal. guns. The barrel is extra thick and heavy.
Regarding the ramrod -- the ramrod that comes with the gun is made of lightweight wood. There have been reports that it swells when wet, and sticks in the channel. In any case, I would not trust it mechanically for heavy-duty use. Remember, some of the originals had steel ramrods. Fortunately, replacing the ramrod with steel is easy. There are musket cleaning kits sold by Civil War sutlers that include 5/16" diameter cleaning rod sections. Put the proper brass tip on the threaded end and cut the section to length. Perfect fit! (You can also take the brass ramrod tip off and use the rod with worms, bullet pullers, cleaning jags, etc.)
