An In-Line Muzzle Loading Pistol

. Palmer, Jr. Most Americans are quick to embrace technological change or advances and we buy the new i Pads, smart phones, flat screen TVs and hybrid-electric cars in great numbers. However, there are a few of us who want to retain the simplicity of having a firearm that does not require any pre-loaded, manufactured cartridges. All you need are the basics: Black powder, lead round balls or slugs, and a percussion cap.

The muzzle loading shooting community is a growing segment 45 caliber muzzle loading pistol in its display case. Included in the case is the ramrod and a complete set of disassembly tools. The glass vials hold 30 grains of FFFg black powder. Much greater powder charges can be used if desired. The round tin containers hold the lead round balls and Number 11 percussion caps. of shooting sports as witnessed by the rack of new muzzle loading firearms in any gun store.

As most readers know, most of the cap and ball rifles made today are often inline models. The term refers to the elimination of an external hammer in a muzzle loading firearm with an in-line bolt that moves straight forward to contact the percussion cap. I designed the first modern inline muzzle loading rifle back in 1963, as reported in Alaska Sportsman Magazine and the October 2013 issue of American Gunsmith. Today, there are a dozen different types on the market.

While many black powder shooters have switched over to the in-line type of ignition for their rifles, no such action has taken place for muzzle loading pistols. Samuel Colt created the first revolver in 1836 which relied on loose powder loaded into the cylinders with wads and lead balls pushed down on top and fired by percussion caps on the cylinders. The Colt company went on to refine the cap and ball revolver and produced several different models in later years.

The most famous was the 1860 model supplied to Union Army troops during the Civil War. The 1858 Remington was another percussion revolver in .36 and .44 caliber that also relied on the same approach to loading. The Remington was used by both sides during the Civil War and was stronger than the

The bolt (hammer), spring, bolt rod and threaded bushing all can be easily removed for cleaning. Also shown is the rotating thumb safety and the two cap screws that fasten the frame to the receiver. Colt owing to a frame strap across the top of the cylinder. Replicas of these and other cap and ball revolvers are still being made today, however, few if any are using in-line muzzle loading pistols, an odd situation as in-line ignition has proven reliable and popular in rifles.

General Specifications One piece barrel/receiver 12" Diameter barrel 7/8" Barrel length 7-1/2" Diameter receiver 1-1/8" Frame of flat steel plate (front to back) 4-1/2" Frame depth (top to bottom) 4-1/2" Trigger opening height 1" width 1-3/8" Bolt (hammer) diameter 9/16" length 3/4" Bolt (cocking rod & spring retainer) 3-1/2" Bolt rod diameter 1/4" Bolt face drilled and recessed to fit over the percussion cap.

Bolt (threaded spring retainer bushing) threads 3/4" length 7/8" Top capping hole length 1" width with oval ends 1/2" Breech plug and nipple to fit No. 11 caps length 1-1/2" Threaded 9/16" x 1" In fact, as far as I know, no manufacturers are producing in-line muzzle loading pistols. My photos here illustrate an inline muzzle loading pistol I designed back in 1965. It is a single shot .45 caliber model with an adjustable rear sight, adjustable trigger pull and a rotating thumb safety.

In some of the photos I have taken the picture with the pistol over laying a one inch grid to provide the reader with a perspective of actual size. Readers with proper machine tools could easily make one of their own. I have included the basic specifications to get you started. The caliber is .45. The one piece barrel/receiver is made from rifled blank barrel stock. The breech plug end cut on end to fit No. 11 caps with flat sides forward of nipple for removal. The frame to barrel is attached by cap screws.

The piece has Walnut grips, the front sight is a simple ramp and the rear sight is adjustable. It is my hope that some firearms manufacturer or individual gunsmiths will read this article and decide that there just might be a market out there for an in-line muzzle loading pistols in our shooting and hunting community. AG