flint lock hammer

[treasuredog]

I found a flint lock hammer(ball and cap)from a gun,back in 1979,1980,at stone mountain georgia. What is the approximate age and value. Sorry no pics,right now. Any info appreciated.

 

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[littleneckhalfshell]

Flintlock or cap & ball, which is it, they are not the same thing.
the Cock of a flintlock holds the flint that makes the sparks that fire the gun, the hammer as you speak of it, hits the cap on the nipple of a percussion lock gun and fires the gun. Both are used on muzzle loader guns and pistols, but are from different time periods.

 

[Boilermaker27]

man, you gotta post some pictures.

As for value I would probably say very little.

As for age that is impossible without a picture.

Now, from the bit of information that you gave. Probably American Civil War and that is about all I can guess at.

 

[vayank54]

If it's just a hammer it's only worth a few dollars. If it's the whole lockplate it will be worth more depending on the type of gun it came from. It would help a lot if you could post some pics.

 

[Arid-Zone-A-seeker]

Flintlock or cap & ball, which is it, they are not the same thing.
the Cock of a flintlock holds the flint that makes the sparks that fire the gun, the hammer as you speak of it, hits the cap on the nipple of a percussion lock gun and fires the gun. Both are used on muzzle loader guns and pistols, but are from different time periods.

Flintlocks came to this in this country generally in the 1600s and have never been discontinued. I examined a Pennsylvania, it was a Berks county flintlock originally but was fitted with a witworth hexagonal barrel and converted to percussion. And used in the CW.

Percussion was prevalent in the 1830s until present, Lots of flintlocks were converted to percussion, the new fad,, tons of percussion guns were traded to the Indians for huntin game. Most were smoothbore, using shot or ball. Many guns were made at home from parts scrounged from other guns, or bought at hardware stores, a piece at a time.

Some people joined into a battle from just down the road, and brought what they had, especially in the south. As long as a gun was not made past the CW period it could have been used in a Cw battle.
All things made during the CW period could have been used after the period, just go to a surplus store and buy it. What you find with your gun parts, and buttons, and research will help determine the period of your find.

 

[armchairQB30]

I would go here www.midtenrelics.com

You are looking at maybe 25 dollars after you cleaned it up, if it has makers marks on it maybe ten dollars more.