Correct Riffle Terminology
in the 18th Century
From:
“A riffle Gun and what belongs to her”
Wallace Gusler, Muzzle Blasts January 2003 (The gunsmith that made the Williamsburg gunsmithing program.)
Joe and I both liked the article and in a discussion, Joe said that we ought to get it out to the members so that we could talk right in the dog and pony show!
Rifle Rifle Gun – as opposed to other guns
Smooth Rifle smooth bore rifle gun – a fowler built to look like a rifle
Hammer Cock – it looked like a pecking cock when fired
Frizzen Hammer
Lock Lock
Stock Stock
Barrel Barrel
Fowler Smooth bore gun or Round bore gun
Musket Musket, Firelock
Lands and grooves Lands and Furrows (this is great!)
Touch hole Touch hole
Breach plug Breach screw or Breach Pin
Back of barrel Breach
Butt stock Breach (of the stock) - you get the meaning from context
Stock drop Bend (of the stock)
Muzzle Muzzle
Front sight Fore sight
Rear sight Hind sight
Caliber Balls to the pound – this was important for ciphering the lead needed to cast ball
Octagonal Barrel Squared Barrel – “Part squared and part round”
Rifle gender Feminine – Her
Finish Blued – yes, browning was just coming into favor in our period – 1780
Barrel loops Loops
Wedges, keys Draw loops, Sliding bolts
Length Feet and inches, not just inches
Now from The Kentucky Rifle by John G. Dillin, page 43, are the balls to the pound for various calibers.
Balls to the pound Caliber
12 .75 – Brown Bess
16 .69 – Charleville
20 .62 – smooth gun
26 .58 – rifle gun
30 .54 – rifle gun
34 .52 – rifle gun
38 .50 – rifle gun
56 .45 – rifle gun
95 .38 – rifle gun
These are approximate, the density of lead varies and these take into account patching.