Guys,
Here is another set of three breech plug thread taps that were used by the Fry gunsmiths of Western Pa in the mid 19th c. I believe that the above posted taps sets are from a much earlier date. This set uses essentially the same starting and bottom tap as the early set. The middle or tapered tap is of a more modern design. The tap was made with parallel threads that were modified to give the taper or lead - in arrangement, very similar to the ones we buy and use today. You can see in the detailed photo how similar this one is to the taps we all have in our tool kit today. Personally, I believe that the earlier set was better to use, just more difficult to make the taps to begin with. But, I am somewhat of a dinosaur in the way I make guns (electricity is a passing abberation).
Jim Everett
