Converting Flintlock 1805 Pistol to percussion.

[Grapeshot]

How hard would it be to convert a Harpers Ferry Flint Pistol to percussion?

[Omnivore]

Super easy; take it in to a place that sells them in percussion configuration, and trade it in.

Seriously though; if you have to ask, probably pretty hard. Of course large numbers of flint guns were converted to the new percussion system during the 1800s. The conversion could take many forms. The cheapest was to remove the frizzen and frizzen spring, grind off the priming pan, cut the lock plate down to accommodate a percussion "powder drum", drill out the vent on the barrel and thread it to take a powder drum. Fit the drum, replace the flint cock with a hammer made to fit and reach the new percussion nipple at the right angle and suchlike. That's basically it, with some finish work as follow-up. Mostly hand work with a few small parts replaced.

Track of the Wolf sells a few books on "Building the 18th Century American Long rifle" or of similar title, in which the processes involved are well presented, including pistols, percussion systems and conversions. It helps greatly to read such books, so that you go in to a project understanding the architecture and the mechanics of the gun and how things are supposed to work together to avoid problems. It ain't all immediately obvious, just looking at one.

[bedbugbilly]

Omnivore describes the process well.

The major part of the hammer will be the fitting. First, it must have the correct "throw" - distance from the center of the hammer screw to the center of the nipple. Usually, you have to start from scratch with a new "un-drilled" hammer casting and file and fit the square hole for the tumbler shank so that the hammer seats down correctly on the nipple. Depending on the geometry of the lock, some alterations may be necessary to the tumbler notches as well.

If a person has some good basic hand working skills, a drill press, etc. it is "doable". A small vertical mill would make the whole process a lot easier as far as milling off the pan and milling the drum channel in the lock-plate but a lot of original flinders were converted with only hand tools. A lot of file work and fitting will produce a good job.

[doc1876]

I have to ask why? The Harper's Ferry is a Beautiful gun.

[waksupi]

There is enough demand for them in flint, I would just sell it, and buy one that is already percussion. Save time, probably money, and aggravation.