Just a few points to reiterate or comment on anew:
1. Derek: Yep, I've also been fooled by well-camouflaged cap fragments lodged in the hammer channel. Some are so well camouflaged that, when encountering the problem you did, I take a small, narrow screwdriver and slide it down the hammer channel. On a few occasions, I've been surprised to see a flattened cap fragment suddenly free itself from the steel surface. This is best done with the revolver unloaded and upside down, so the fragment can fall free and won't fall farther down into the works.
2. I don't like WD-40 and don't use it in any guns, even modern guns. In fact, I rarely use it for anything. After a time, it congeals into a hardened varnish that is very hard to remove. It's pure poison in door locks, gun mechanisms and padlocks. It may take a while, a year or more, but WD-40 will become a hard, dried varnish after a while.
Interestingly, some anglers in northern Idaho and eastern Washington --- where I used to live --- used WD-40 to disguise human scent or as a fish attractant on their trolling gear. I saw a number of anglers hose down their flashers, cowbells, Ford fenders and lure with the stuff before putting it in the water.
I don't suggest this as it's introducing even more petroleum products to fishing waters. Plus, I never saw that it made a difference in the catch.
WD-40 has gained almost cult-like status today but I'm not a fan of the stuff.
3. My own cap and ball revolvers get a coating of olive oil. I avoid any and all petroleum products in my black powder guns --- except for canning paraffin. This stuff, sold in 1 pound blocks, apparently lacks the hydrocarbons of other petroleum products.
I use it my favorite bullet lubricant composed of
1 part paraffin
1 part mutton tallow
1/2 part beeswax
All measurements are by weight, not volume.
I live in the remote Utah desert where humidity is typically low, though a passing thunderstorm can drop a lot of water on hot, dry ground and raise the humidity up to 60 percent or more in short order.
If you live where humidity is almost always high, then I'd suggest you hose down the revolver with a spray gun oil. These are made by Remington, Birchwood Casey and others. In my experience with modern firearms, it penetrates well and doesn't turn to varnish or gum over time.
But if you can, avoid petroleum products in black powder guns.
4. A paper clip as a nipple pick is a good idea, if you can find a clip tiny enough. The orifice in my nipples runs considerably smaller than the average paper clip, so I've been forced to use a commercial nipple pick for want of finding anything else suitable. I'm told that piano wire is good but I don't know of a source.
Many years ago I picked up a nipple wrench with a built-in nipple pick. It's on a brass cap that threads into the handle end of the nipple pick. It's a good gizmo and has lasted me about 30 years. It also fits my .50-caliber rifle nipples, so it's a good one to have in the possibles bag when hunting or roaming. I think they're still made and are probably around $10, as I recall.
5. After washing all parts in hot, soapy water I shake the excess water off and place them in a baking pan. Then the pan goes into the oven. The oven door is opened a bit to let steam escape and the oven is set to 150 degrees or lower. The lowest setting you can get is best.
I've never found this to accelerate rust later, as has been posited. Not if you give the warm metal parts a good coat of oil after removing from the oven.
Steel is porous and will soak up a lot of moisture or oil, so it's imperative that the parts be thoroughly dried, then oil be liberally used. After a day or so, excess oil can be wiped off the parts and the revolver may be reassembled.
6. I'm pleased that my long-winded treatise on the cap and ball sixgun has generated a number of comments. I'm not so bull-headed as to insist that my way is the only way, but I posted what I've learned from experience --- some of it contrary to what the books and advertising claim.
I hope we can keep this thread going, with even more experiences and comments from others. You're never too old to learn --- but some are too stubborn.
