Man, I'm not sure - so now will have to start going through my books. Didn't Verner have one that was pretty early? As a matter of fact, "THE" Verner rifle had a hooked breech didn't it? So that dates it to then, and I suspect a lot earlier by "somebody or another".
I've often thought about doing a hooked breech, but finding a barrel smith who will do one is difficult.
A lot of discussion on the hooked breech. There are those who say it is "inaccurate" because it is loose and nothing ever lines up quite the same way. On the other hand, to those that shoot like me, what difference does it make? If you move the impact a half an inch this way or that at 50 yards - the way I shoot - who the heck cares? Big deal!
If somebody put out a quality hooked breech barrel I'd buy one in a second.
A simple hooked breech is not that tough.
Patent breeches can be more difficult.
Basically if you want something nobody makes you make it yourself.
If making a plain flint with a hooked breech just file a hook on the breech plug and make the standing breech. If you make the standing breech in 2 peices, fit the vertical part to the hook and then weld on a tang its pretty easy. But like all such things it will be a learning experience.
Just make the hook substantial and fit the plug *well* first and do not over tighten so the hook can be used to install and remove without damaging the hook. Leave enough metal to make a good hook from. One can be made from a bolt with the head used as a *lump* to form the hook from. You can also round stock but its easier with a lathe.
A large commercial breechplug, one for a 1 1/8" barrel should have enough metal for a hook to be formed. It needs to be pretty wide so a plug for a small barrel will not be big enough.
Patent breeches need a lot more work. But can be done with a file and a drill press.
Dan
