Nippleology

[Steve Swartz]

Gurus:

So there are umpty-odd flavors of nipples. My Pietta New Army revolver has one kind with a different thread, diameter, etc. than my Pedersoli Carleton Underhammer.

1) What is the taxonomy/classification system for nipples? What are the different types?

2) How would one determine what type a particular nipple is?

I would like to have some replacement nipples for my Pedersoli gun, but don't particularly want to wait 90-120 days and $$$$ for a special order from Pedersoli. However, Track-of-Wolf etc. stores offer a gazillion different types. How do I know which one is the right one?

The current Nipple:

- Overall Length: 0.493"
- Threaded end length: 0.212"
- Cap end ID: 0.100"
- Cap end OD: 0.148"
- OD, threaded end: 0.234"
- Thread pitch: 5 threads over 0.131" (peak-peak) or 4 over 0.116" (peak-trough) which equates to 34.48 - 38.16 TPI?

I tried testing the threaded end on "bolt finder" gage at local hardware store. Nothing seemed to fit exactly; but it was a close fit on either the metric M6? designation or SAE 8-32 designation? The gage was pretty chewed up though.

aTdHvAaNnKcSe
Steve in North Texas

 

[Bad Flynch]

>So there are umpty-odd flavors of nipples.<

Sure hope you are talking about firearms.

Nipples are classed by firearm (usually rifle/pistol/musket)

Then by thread (U.S. or metric)

Then by cap size (10,11,12, or musket) ( I haven't see a 12 in years)

Then by material (steel, Ampco, stainless steel)

The nipples to which you refer are likely a metric thread and it is likely that all Pietta revolvers take the same thread. So, go to Track of the Wolf's website and buy nipples for a Pietta revolver.

Pedersoli is another matter. Nowadays, Pedersoli is a stickler for copying the originals exactly and does so down to the correct original threads. However, some of the older ones will have different threads, so get a handle on what the thread is by buying two thread gages: one for metric and one for standard. My Pedersoli 1861 Springfield takes and original musket nipple with a US thread.

Uberti Colt replica revolvers use a metric thread that is so close to the old original Colt thread, that an original might work in a pinch. Otherwise, it is a screwy metric thread.

Other brands have their idiosyncrasies, so one must learn about the individual case and Track can help.

 

[mykeal]

Bad Flynch: good response.

Steve Swartz: your Pedersoli nipple sounds like an M6X0.75.

I'll add a little bit:

Nipples are designated numerically by the thread designation, length and then cap size. The most common are:

Metric thread designations -
M6 X 1 (6mm or 0.236" major thread diameter by 1 mm thread pitch or approx 25.4 threads/inch, ISO coarse thread spec)
M6 X 0.75 (6mm or 0.236" major thread diameter by 0.75 mm thread pitch or approx 33.9 threads/inch, ISO fine thread spec)
M8 X 1 (8mm or 0.315" major thread diameter by 1 mm thread pitch or approx. 25.4 threads/inch, ISO fine thread spec)
M8 X 1.25 (8mm or 0.315" major thread diameter by 1.25 mm thread pitch or approx 20.32 threads/inch, ISO coarse thread spec)

SAE thread designations -
1/4 X 28 (0.25" or 6.35mm major thread diameter by 28 threads/inch or 0.907mm pitch, UNF thread spec)
12 X 28 (0.216" or 5.486mm major thread diameter by 28 threads/inch or 0.907mm pitch, UNF thread spec)
1/4 X 32 (0.25" or 6.35mm major thread diameter by 32 threads/inch or 0.794mm thread pitch, UNEF thread spec)
5/16 X 24 (0.312" or 7.94mm major thread diameter by 24 threads/inch or 1.058mm thread pitch, UNF thread spec)
5/16 X 18 (0.312" or 7.94mm major thread diameter by 18 threads/inch or 1.411mm thread pitch, UNC thread spec)

1/4, #12 and M6 are rifle and pistol nipple sizes; 5/16 and M8 are musket nipple sizes (in general, but sometimes...)

Length is specified in inches or mm, depending on the thread spec, and cap sizes are generally #10, #11 and musket.

The 12X28 and M6X1 specs are pretty close to each other and can be mistaken if just casually observed. 5/16X24 and M8X1 are even worse. You really need both SAE and metric thread and bolt size gauges, and they need to be in good condition to be absolutely accurate on what size nipples you need.

Or just send a sample to Track of the Wolf or Thunder Ridge or your favorite supplier and say, "Duplicate this!"

 

[Rachen]

Nippleology??? You perve...... OK OK Just kidding.

:d :d :d

 

[Old Dragoon]

I think Thunder Ridge has a website that tells what nipples go in which maker's guns. and you can pick them out online without having to "Send them away".

 

[Steve Swartz]

Wow thanks all!

Hey, d'ya think this whole "Interweb" thang is gonna catch on someday?

Steve in North Texas

 

[arcticap]

Have you heard about this outfit?


The only U.S. full line dealer direct distributor for Davide Pedersoli, Co.

http://www.flintlocksetc.com/

 

[mykeal]

Old Dragoon - yes, Thunder Ridge's cross reference is excellent and the only one of it's kind I've found. They show the Pedersoli underhammer as M6X0.75 like I guessed from Steve Swartz's description. My suggestion to "send it to them" was actually from a phone conversation I had with them years ago, under the original ownership. They said, "Hey, if you aren't sure and don't want to risk having to send them back, just send us one and we'll do the comparison." Right neighborly.

Articap - thanks for the link. I've wanted to get a good Pedersoli reference site in my database for some time but just kept forgetting to do the search. That saves me some time.