Ok why..... (might a flintlock have a vent in addition to the touchhole)

[elk killer]

Is on fakebook guy says it shoots very well
Pretty sure i wouldn t

[foresterdj]

That must make an interesting jet of flame right in front of your beak. I assume a blunder drilling flash hole?

[JPK]

For the fuse? Them flintlocks need a back up system.

[Bob Roller]

A jet light up that close to my face would not be welcome and someone standing beside it may get their shirt in a knot because of it also.
Bob Roller

[Mike Brooks]

Why not? Great conversation piece.

[Robby]

Mistakes = venting.
Robby

[smylee grouch]

Is that hole threaded for a screw? 

[Eric Kettenburg]

Builder was an old whaler.

[Daryl]

Did the guy on space book mention poor gnition?

[elk killer]

just said it shoots very well and no its not threaded i guess has built several like it

[t.caster]

There is a LOT of STUPIDITY among us, folks!

[ScottNE]

Aside from the hole, those inlay bands are pretty nice looking, interest subtle contrast.

[Hungry Horse]

 What an advantage on the firing line, you can’t tell me event old veterans of the range wouldn’t have one eye on this one. I remember when old Turner was advancing the idea of venting the drum on percussion rifles in the Dixie catalogs, to make the ignition faster. That was like drawing two extra aces on the firing line. Plus you could claim anything, because nobody was watching the targets.

Hungry horse

[Manitou]

That would be great for lighting your cigar while shooting!

[taterbug]

im one of the ones that fell under Turner's 'reference catalog' wiles.  It was on a CVA kane-tuck-ewe percussion kit that had a lot of ignition issues.  in the end took a bit more surgery than one simple hole, but that hole is still there.  I hardly even notice the singed eyebrows and flash marks on the bottom side of the bill my ball cap anymore.  I shoot left handed, so I guess I learned to ignore all the commotion hap'nin right a-twixt my eyes.  at least on mine, the hole is angled forward and in line with the hammer.  But my 'spotter' shooting buddy is always flinching, and never sees target impact even when he stands behind me!

[J.D.]

That would be great for lighting your cigar while shooting!

Probably blow the cigar apart, kinda like a cigarette load. You can get a feel of what that cigar
might encounter by holding the tip of a finger to the side of the pan when the piece is discharged. It hurts.

[Bob Roller]

Plug this vent and put one on the bottom flat to move the ram rod forward for fast reloading .

Bob Roller

[Dphariss]

Is on fakebook guy says it shoots very well
Pretty sure i wouldn t

Probably does shoot OK. But does he show any targets? Remember the British, at least, used to vent percussion guns, which makes no more sense that this. If you asked the builder WHY this was done to the FL you will likely get nonsense.

[Randall Steffy]

Perhaps the notion was that the jet force of the touch hole would be offset by this opposing vent, thus providing better accuracy. A theory with marginal benefit and significant negative impact.

[Daryl]

Of course, the first question should be, is there another vent in the correct location?
If so, the venting is the purpose of this one, however - that hole is 10 or more times larger than the one in Taylor's Lang rifle.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Here's a picture of my Joseph Lang rifle from around 1850.   When I shoot the rifle, I get a tiny bit of fowling at this vent, but I do not notice any jet of smoke or flame.

[Steeltrap]

Wondering if the builder was concerned about over pressure? Not that it would be an issue.....but.....

[Joe Stein]

Well, obviously if the builder knew what he was doing he would have installed a white lightnin' vent liner.

[Bob Gerard]

He was trying for that “double touch hole” thing and kinda got it wrong?

[Steeltrap]

It’s a sort-a right, sort-a left handed almost switch rifle.