Drum & Nipple Alteration
The U.S. government disposed of all smoothbore flintlock muskets made before 1812 and those made after that date which were judged too poor
to alter to the percussion system. These condemed muskets were puchased by speculators in the arms trade and altered, using the drum bolster method.
Again in the 1850's several states disposed of obsolete flint muskets. These arms too were purchased and were altered to percussion. If they were acquired by
a larger private gunmaker the alteration was done expertly using a finer quality drum & nipple and a forged iron or steel hammer. These specimens will usuall
have assembly numbers struck on various parts. The War in the Crimea prompted Colt to alter condemed U.S. Military muskets to percussion. These were
usually M1816 or M1822 models and were rifled with 4 narrow grooves. A drum bolster with a cleanout screw thru its head, marked around the screw in an arc
"Colts" and "Patent" was installed. A forged steel "S" shaped hammer replaced the flint hammer. Colt polished off the old dates and substituted the date of alteration
on the breechplug tang and the tail of the lockplate.
| Contractor |
Dates of Conversion |
Number Converted |
| Unknown |
1850's |
Unknown |
| Colts Patent Firearms Co |
1855-5 |
unknown |
| Drum & Nipple Alteration |
|