Black powder percussion nipple

A percussion cap nipple for use with black powder firearms. The nipple includes a series of internal passageways that cooperate to produce a throughbore that directs the firing charge to the main powder charge in a fast and reliable manner yielding improved powder ignition. The base or exit end is flared to produce a wide spread of a greater quantity of sparks to the powder chamber. The inlet end is narrowed to form an anvil type end wall over which the percussion cap fits. This anvil cooperates with the hammer to assure positive detonation of the percussion cap.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention concerns an improved percussion nipple for use with a 
variety of black powder firearms. It provides improved, quicker and more 
reliable ignition of the main powder charge while yielding better 
percussion cap detonation and longer performance. 
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
For hundreds of years muzzle loaded firearms have relied upon use of an 
ignition orifice or port positioned adjacent the breech end of the barrel. 
This orifice or port allowed an ignition spark or flame to be transmitted 
from a point external of the gun barrel inside the barrel to the primary 
powder charge. This was followed, in most instances, by the explosion of 
that powder charge and the simultaneous expulsion of the bullet from the 
firearm. 
It is well known that this process involved the rapid movement of sparks, a 
type of flame or hot gases. Over time this causes wear of the ignition 
ports. Further, it is also well known that the size and effective diameter 
of those ports vary appreciably with continued use and deteriorate over 
time. This deterioration is primarily due to the formation of a crust 
about the interior end of the orifice formed from powder residue that 
accompanies such use, that residue being comprised of the reaction between 
the charcoal, moisture, sulphur and nitrates from which the powder is 
comprised. 
Various nozzle designs have been used in the past. One such design is shown 
in FIG. 1. This is a standard coned touchhole liner previously used only 
in flintlock guns. In flintlock weapons, the hammer included a piece of 
flint designed to strike a frizzen when the trigger was pulled. Most 
desirably this would produce one or more sparks adjacent the touchhole. 
The touchhole liner was made relatively large at its internal diameter so 
that the spark entering therein would be directed at the powder charge 
previously positioned in the breech end of the barrel. It was desirable to 
make the passageway from the flint to the powder charge as close as 
possible and frequently the exterior end of the touchhold liner would be 
filed down so that its exterior end lay flush with the exterior of the 
firearm. 
These flintlock touchhole devices were not useful when the ignition system 
changed to use percussion caps. There was not a reduced portion on which 
the cap could be positioned and the percussion cap comprised a slightly 
different approach at ignition which required a different style and length 
nipple. 
Various types of ignition nipples used with percussion caps are shown, for 
example, in U.S. Patents to Hopkins, U.S. Pat. No. 36,464, Talbott, U.S. 
Pat. No. 92,398, Vaughn, U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,303, Peterson, U.S. Pat. No. 
4,123,867, Ives, U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,335 and Pawlak et al, U.S. Pat. No. 
4,186,506. 
The nipple shown in Hopkins screws into the breech end of the barrel and 
appears to include an internal passageway that is comprised of two tapered 
sections that join directly with one another at a point central along the 
bore. Talbott begins with a short small diameter cylindrical bore, similar 
to the touchhole liner, with the bore then flaring outwardly into an 
elongated, conically shaped section adjacent the base end of the nipple 
structure. Each of the more recent designs in Vaughn, Peterson, Ives and 
Pawlak et al show the concept of starting with a relatively large diameter 
primary chamber which terminates at a very small diameter bore that leads 
into the breech end of the barrel. 
It is common that these nipples all screw into one or more types of 
mounting blocks, each of which includes an internal passageway that in 
turn leads to the primary powder charge. These mounting blocks can either 
be of the bolster type, a drum type or a mule ear (side slapper) type. 
One problem associated with ignition nipples available today relates 
directly to the small size of the bores at the base of such nipples. 
Peterson attempts to overcome bore wear problems by employing an insert 
sleeve formed from a material which exhibits improved wear properties due 
to the use of a heat and wear resistant material. However, the area around 
the small diameter bore at the base of the nipple inevitably crests over 
due to powder residue buildup restricting flow through that small bore. 
This reduces the time the nipple remains useful and limits the effective 
diameter of that bore which leads to unreliable ignition and poses 
potential safety hazards. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, the black powder ignition nipple 
provides a unique through bore that assures reliable operation, provides a 
self-cleaning base or interior end and includes an improved, anvil type 
cap seat which assures positive detonation of the cap and makes detonation 
of that cap more easily achieved. 
The new design for the internal bore, according to the present invention, 
provides a base end having a relatively wide opening so that the sparks 
flowing therethrough are provided to the main powder chamber in a faster 
and more dependably manner. The through bore includes an intermediate 
flame port provided between the primary chamber in which cap detonation 
initially occurs and the base chamber. This flame port not only helps 
maintain the firing pressure within the barrel but is positioned at a 
point along the axial length of the nipple so that it is within the 
confines of the mounting end of the nipple. This helps assure that radial 
forces generated during firing are effectively contained, assuring safe 
and long term reliable operation. 
The inlet end over which the cap is retained has been reduced in size so 
that a narrowed end wall is created. This narrowed end wall provides a 
relatively sharp anvil against which the cap will sit. This anvil assumes 
positive cap detonation and improves the reliability of the ignition 
process. 
Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as 
well as the methods and operation and functions of the related elements of 
the structure, and to the combination of parts and economies of 
manufacture, will become apparent upon consideration of the following 
description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying 
drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like 
reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
As explained previously, and as shown in FIG. 1, flintlock firearms relied 
upon the creation of a spark on the exterior of the weapon which then had 
to pass through a touchhole adjacent the spark pan. This hole led directly 
to the powder charge in the breech end of the barrel. The liner itself, 
generally indicated at 10, included a threaded mounting section 12, a 
relatively large exit port 14 and a relatively small inlet port 16. The 
touchhole liner 10 included a slot or groove 18 formed across the inlet 
end providing a way to screw the device into or out of the breech end of 
the firearm. The inlet port 16 was usually provided within that slot or 
groove. 
This device was not found useful with percussion caps which needed a more 
elongated nipple structure. Further, the inlet end had to be reduced in 
diameter and had to extend outwardly away from the barrel so that it could 
slidingly receive a percussion cap thereover. With reference to FIGS. 2 
and 3, a percussion cap is shown at 20. 
The nipple according to the present invention is generally shown in FIGS. 
2-5 at 30. As shown in FIG. 2, nipple 30 can be mounted to a firearm 32 
and specifically within one of the standard types of a mounting block, one 
of which is generally indicated at 34. The mounting block shown at 34 is a 
bolster type. Another type is referred to as a drum type. This drum type 
is comprised of an elongated cylindrical member having an elongated 
interior chamber or base. The cylindrical member screws into the breech 
end of the barrel and the interior bore opens directly into the main 
powder charge. The exterior of the interior chamber is plugged by a clean 
out screw and the percussion nipple screws into the side wall of the 
cylindrical member with its base end lying within the interior chamber. 
The nipple according to the invention includes an elongated body 36 that 
begins at a first or inlet end 38, and terminates at a second or outlet 
end 40. 
Inlet end 38 includes a reduced diameter cap receiving portion 42. The 
center portion 44 of the body 36 includes two outwardly facing, 
parallel-planar surfaces, such as shown at 46 in FIGS. 3-5, by which the 
nipple itself can be tightened in place. The elongated body 36 also 
includes a mounting portion 48 comprised of externally formed threads so 
that the nipple can screw into a bore 50 provided within mounting block 
34. 
With reference again to FIG. 5, the inlet end 38 is provided with an end 
wall 52 which has a narrowed, annular face. This face is formed by having 
the exterior or outside wall of portion 42 bevelled or chamfered as at 54. 
The nipple structure includes a primary, hollow interior chamber 56 with 
the interior surfaces adjacent the inlet of that chamber also being 
beveled or chamfered as shown at 58. The combination of the bevelled 
surfaces 54, 58 produce the narrowed end wall 52 which acts like an anvil. 
It is against this end wall which the cap 20 can fit. During firing that 
narrowed end wall or surface assures a more positive detonation of the 
explosive charge contained within the cap. 
The primary chamber 56 terminates at a conically shaped or tapered interior 
end 60 that narrows down to a flame port 62 which, in turn, opens into a 
second chamber at the base or exit end of the nipple. Immediately 
downstream of flame port 62 is a second tapered or cone shaped section 
shown at 66 that merges with a cylindrical portion 67 of the second 
chamber 64. The second chamber 64 terminates with a tapered or flared 
section 68, which in cooperation with threads 48 produces an end wall 70 
therebetween. 
The nipple according to the present invention is preferably comprised of 
stainless steel although a wide variety of metals, alloys, or other 
materials, including man made materials, could be used so long as they are 
heat and wear resistant and will withstand the temperatures, chemical 
effects and pressures associated with firearm ignition. 
With reference to FIG. 3, mounting block 34, of which nipple 30 is 
threadably attached, includes a powder chamber 80 into which an L-shaped 
passage 82 opens. Passage 82 provides fluid communication between the base 
or discharge end 40 of nipple 30 to the powder chamber 80 and, of course, 
the main powder charge. As shown, the exterior end of passageway 82 is 
blocked with a clean-out set screw 84. Similarly, the opposite end of 
passageway 82 opening into chamber 80 can be tapered as indicated at 86 to 
form an outlet port into powder chamber 80. Consequently, when hammer 88, 
shown in FIG. 2, is actuated by trigger 90, the hammer will fall onto cap 
20. The impact cap 20 is resisted by the anvil surface 52 and in 
cooperation with the hammer causes detonation if the cap 20. The resulting 
explosive charge passes into the primary chamber 56, through flame port 62 
and on through the second chamber 64. The charge then moves through 
passageway 82 and into contact with the main powder charge within powder 
chamber 80 located within the breech end of the barrel. 
As shown in FIG. 5, flame port 62 is located on the mounting side of the 
center portion 44. While the exact location of port 62 can vary, it is 
desired that the flame port 62 will be fully mounted within mounting block 
34 when nipple 30 is itself correctly mounted in place. This assures that 
the port 62 will lie within the confines of the threaded bore 50 of 
mounting block 34 so that radical forces created during firing will be 
resisted by block 34. 
The exit end 40 of nipple 30 is provided with the flared opening as at 68 
which reduces the exposed end wall or surface 70 at the base or interior 
end of nipple 30. This provides a surface which sheds rather than 
accumulates a buildup of powder residue. In fact, this narrowed end wall 
70 exhibits a self-cleaning characteristic so that as firing continues 
powder residue that would be expected to accumulate tends to be burned 
off. The enlarged second chamber 64 permits the firing charge to move 
through to passageway 82 very rapidly, helps to maintain the passage fully 
open and end wall 70 provides further assistance in maintaining the 
desired operating dimensions of the nipple. 
The primary chamber 56 has a diameter preferably of about 0.093 inches 
(.+-.0.005 inches). The flame port preferably has an axial depth along 
axis 92 of about 0.093 inches but can range from about 0.085 to 0.100 
inches. The second chamber 64, and in particular the diameter of the 
cylindrical section 67, is preferably about 0.125 inches (.+-.0.005 
inches) and the axial depth of the portions of the second chamber 
including sections 67 and 68 is approximately 0.125 inches. The nipple 
itself has an overall axial length of about 0.600 inches with the length 
of the mounting portion, from the entrance to flame port 62 to end wall 
70, being approximately 0.200 inches. The axial length of wall portion 42 
from end wall 52 to shoulder 94 is approximately 0.235 inches and the 
remaining length of the center portion 44 being approximately 0.165 
inches. 
The tapered sections 60 and 66 preferably have side walls tapered at an 
angle ranging from 30.degree. to 45.degree.. The beveling of section 68 is 
preferably about 30.degree., plus or minus 5.degree. and this can also be 
the angle of bevel 54. The bevel or chamfer at 58 is preferably about 
12.degree., plus or minus 5.degree.. In addition, the diameter of port 62 
is preferably about 0.031 inches. 
The design of the present invention provides a very efficient mechanism 
through which sparks or fire can be transmitted to the powder charge in 
muzzle loading firearms. The coned base chamber 64 permits more sparks to 
flow and in a wide spread pattern into the powder chamber providing surer 
and more reliable ignition of the powder charge. As more sparks reach the 
main powder charge, there is an increased ability of those sparks creating 
a quicker and more dependable ignition of that main powder charge. 
Further, the structure of the end wall 70 creates a self-cleaning 
structure and resists powder residue buildup. This provides a longer 
period of accurate flow. Further, the small diameter fire port 62 prevents 
excess gas from escaping backwards through the nipple during firing yet 
permits positive and more consistent ignition. 
The present design provides a longer operating life for the nipple due to 
the lack of powder residue buildup. Further, because the fire port is 
built into the center of the body of the nipple, heat can be dissipated 
and be transferred to the block and firearm. This also aids in lengthening 
the operating life of the nipple. Because of the consistent and strong 
flow patterns created by this nipple structure, burning of the main powder 
charge is cleaner and provides more consistent performance in having the 
ignition charge reach the powder in the barrel. Thus, surer and faster 
ignition of the main powder charge result. 
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently 
considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be 
understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed 
embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various 
modifications are equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and 
scope of the appended claims.