Is it a friction primer or not?

[Ifyndit]

Found about 8 of these last weekend. It looks like a friction primer but not a type I have found before. I know the area we were searching used a Mountain Howitzer during the 1850's-1880's. What do you all think? It is about 1 3/4" in length.

 

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[Monty]

Wish I new what a friction primer was? I am guessing it was used to fire off a field gun using massive charges of blackpowder. Sorry, I don't know but would like to! Monty

 

[nhbenz]

I had to look that up too :P http://www.nps.gov/archive/pete/mahan/frictionprimer.html

Pretty neat find. I hope you're right about what it is, but I sure have no idea (since I just now learned what they are)
It would be awesome if they could be attributed to use with the particular cannon that you mentioned.

 

[CRUSADER]

& I thought part of an old shaver

 

[Ifyndit]

Sorry...here is what a friction primer is:


Friction Primers

The age of the linstock and quill had not quite ended by the time of the Civil War - Gibbon gives detailed instructions for the manufacture and use of slow-match, quills, and even portfires. However, this cumbersome method of firing had been superseded by the remarkably effective friction primer. The primer consists of a brass tube, open at one end. At the closed end, a small hole of about the same diameter of the tube is drilled to one side, and short length of similar tubing is inserted and soldered into place. Opposite this short length of tubing is a hole to receive the priming wire, which is a length of brass wire with a flattened and serrated end. The short tube is lined with a friction powder similar in composition to the head of a friction match, and the priming wire is inserted through the head of the primer and into the short tube, which is then crimped to hold the end of the serrated wire in place. The long end of the priming wire is twisted into a loop.
The head of the primer is then sealed with shellac, and when dry the main body of the primer is filled with musket powder, the open end being sealed with wax. The resulting product is effectively waterproof, which is one of the signal advantages of the friction primer over the linstock. In use, the primer is simply placed in the vent hole of the piece, with the lanyard hooked to the loop of wire at its head. When the lanyard is pulled, the serrated end of the priming wire ignites the friction composition, which in turn sets off the musket powder in the body of the primer, which flashes down the vent to set off the main charge. The effect is almost instantaneous. For more information about the manufacturer of primers, see Craig Joksch's Primers page.

Before the introduction of the friction primer, many pieces were equipped with a lock mechanism to use percussion caps, similar to those used to fire muskets.

 

[BuckleBoy]

A friction primer would've had a "crimped end" (which is frequently broken off in field-dug examples). I have dug some that had the original wire in them, but I don't think yours looks like a friction primer. Were there any other war relics found at the same site?



-Buckles

 

[Ifyndit]

A friction primer would've had a "crimped end" (which is frequently broken off in field-dug examples). I have dug some that had the original wire in them, but I don't think yours looks like a friction primer. Were there any other war relics found at the same site?



-Buckles

The site had a lot of military activity for 20+ years. We have found only one friction primer like the one shown in my second post but nothing like this. They are the same size and diameter as a friction primer but different design. In fact, if you look at one of the close up pictures you can see small ridges on the inside of where the wire would have gone. Almost like a strike plate for a match. That's why I was thinking these were friction primers. Very odd
Attached are a few pictures showing the likeness to a friction primer.

 

[BuckleBoy]

A friction primer would've had a "crimped end" (which is frequently broken off in field-dug examples). I have dug some that had the original wire in them, but I don't think yours looks like a friction primer. Were there any other war relics found at the same site?



-Buckles

The site had a lot of military activity for 20+ years. We have found only one friction primer like the one shown in my second post but nothing like this. They are the same size and diameter as a friction primer but different design. In fact, if you look at one of the close up pictures you can see small ridges on the inside of where the wire would have gone. Almost like a strike plate for a match. That's why I was thinking these were friction primers. Very odd

Then perhaps it is a friction primer, just not Civil War era.


But it is not a CW relic, I'm pretty certain.

 

[Ifyndit]

A friction primer would've had a "crimped end" (which is frequently broken off in field-dug examples). I have dug some that had the original wire in them, but I don't think yours looks like a friction primer. Were there any other war relics found at the same site?



-Buckles

The site had a lot of military activity for 20+ years. We have found only one friction primer like the one shown in my second post but nothing like this. They are the same size and diameter as a friction primer but different design. In fact, if you look at one of the close up pictures you can see small ridges on the inside of where the wire would have gone. Almost like a strike plate for a match. That's why I was thinking these were friction primers. Very odd

Then perhaps it is a friction primer, just not Civil War era.


But it is not a CW relic, I'm pretty certain.

How about Indian Wars era?

 

[BuckleBoy]

How about Indian Wars era?

Could be. I'm just not as familiar with earlier and later relics than the CW.

 

[Montana Jim]

I'd have to say it's not... see this link for friction primers by the handsfull and none looks like yours.

http://www.treasurenet.com/westeast/200101/relichunter/ (Scroll down)

 

[Monty]

Sorry I can't help you but I learned something, so thanks! Monty

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/362732-friction-primer.html