The water that will spoil your hunting trip is the drop that runs off the 45 degree flat
above the pan.There were some locks that were made in such a way that partially
helped with water run off.
.
To quote Robert Held in the American Gun "TINY,gold plated corrosion proof,sure fire pans in
the old man's 25 year old Manton Double".The reason we have the marvelous relics to admire,try to copy
and use today was the obstructionist goals of the flintlock advocates who were trying to forestall the
percussion system then making advances into the hunting fields.Also they claimed that war using the
percussion system would create casualties beyond number by more certain ignition of powder.
These little locks with their powerful springs,linked to the tumbler that that when released would slam fire into the tiny
priming charge. The big military locks more or less dumped the fire into the pan and there IS a noticeable
difference in these locks.I well recall Tom Dawson's 16 bore Manton whose ignition was abrupt and as Tom
said, "It feels like the cock is kicking back under the gun". Another less thought of thing was the little sporting
locks were more apt to fire in a strong wind.
The water that will wreck a hunting trip with these guns was the drop or two that ran down off the 45 degree
angle above the pan.
Bob Roller
