Ignition systems on originals - What about the Pill Lock?

[gibster]

I found the comments from all the contributors to the thread "Comments on percussion ignition" to be very informative and I always enjoy learning more about the history of our favorite pastime.  I have always been lead to think that the percussion system was showing up and gaining in popularity around 1830, which from all the comments seems to be about right, give or take a couple of years.  But what about the PILL LOCK system .  I have a pistol that utilizes this system and figured that it was probably made sometime in the early to mid 1820's.  From what I understand, the pill lock ignition used the fulminate of mercury that was formed into a small ball (shaped like a football?) and placed into the drum/touch hole.  When the hammer struck the fulminate of mercury, it exploded, igniting the main charge, the same principal that the percussion cap ignition used.  Evidently, this system didn't really catch on for lots of reasons.  And I haven't seen very many examples of the pill lock used.  I guess that guns made with this system could have been "converted" to percussion as all it would take was a change/modification of the hammer and adding a nipple to the drum.  What are your thoughts as to when this system was used?  Do any of you own a rifle/pistol with this ignition system?  If so, I would enjoy seeing pictures of this small part of history.  Below is a picture of the pistol that I own.

[alex e.]

Two summers ago at the  Jefferson Co .Antique gun & artifact show there was a never before seen J.P. Beck with what at first look seemed to be a flintlock,but was not.The jaws of the cock were to hold the striking part of the system,If i recall there was no evidence of a frizzen,or a very good conversion,A very interesting gun to say the least.

Alex..

[Feltwad]

There is not much difference between the pill lock and the patch lock these evolved around the period from 1815 to 1825 The patch lock had a detachable nose, the patch consisted of the percussion compound sandwiched between two pieces of paper and shaped like a disk  the pill lock adapted the same principle although Lancaster did invent an automatic  system fixed to the lock which allowed one pill to drop into the touchhole when the hammer moved forwad.
Enclosed is an image  of a flintlock converted to a patch lock with a detachable nose  by James Rowntree and dates 1815-20 it also has an early back action lock
Feltwad

[Daryl]

Of course, it sounds as if the 'patch' primer evolved into the Maynard tape primer uses for a number of years in the States on a variety of Martial arms.

One problem that might have arrisen with a pill or tube locks, is the gas erosion of the hammer's nose from the blast out the vent.  Over a period of time, it is possible the iron or steel in the hammer's nose would become angled or cut away on one side.  A similar thing occurs with a flintlock that drops the flint right into the pan, with the left front corner being cut & burned away in only a few shots.