✅ SOLVED CW???????

[relic nut]

Found this today with some CW relics and bullets. Round part is brass with a square shaft. There is cork around where shaft comes from brass part. Could it be some type of old bottle stopper? Thanks for looking.

 

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[etex]

tompion, basically a stopper for gun muzzle

 

[relic nut]

tompion, basically a stopper for gun muzzle

Thanks for the ID. You the man. Didn't think it was anything. Just goes to show you.

 

[Tedyoh]

tompion, basically a stopper for gun muzzle

Is there a more technical name? I googled "gun muzzle stopper" and see nothing, also what would this stopper be stopping? Thanks.

 

[duggap]

They were referred to as Tompions. The shaft was covered in cork.https://www.google.com/search?q=civ...X&ved=0CB4QsARqFQoTCLaXluee98YCFcWRDQodGlgBpQ

 

[Tedyoh]

So we have cork encapsuled in brass to make a tight seal in a barrel to keep moisture and debris out? No wonder they are not still around!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Relic Nut, the "more specific" identification of your find is, a civil war era tompion made in England for use in a British Enfield .577-caliber rifle. As the photos at the link posted by Duggap show, this type of tompion had a thin brass disc on the end of the long central shaft to hold the cork cylinder in place. That disc is broken off of the tompion you found, which is why it got discarded by the soldier.

Tedyoh, since you asked... the tompion's purpose was to keep dirt, dust, and rainwater from getting into the rifle's barrel, especially needed because soldiers always marched with the rifle slung over their shoulder muzzle-upward.

 

[CaptEsteban]

Hmmmm. In Vietnam we used " condoms !"

 

[relic nut]

Thanks for all the info. I learned something with this find. That's what I love about T-net, the wealth of information is exceptional. Thanks to all. HH RN