Loosely speaking, any non inline is "traditional". I've gone to underhammers as they are pc back to 1835, and most clubs have an 1840 cut off date. However the purists really don't like anything but side hammer flintlocks. The underhammer is just my way of pullin' on thier chains.
LMAO round ball is probably going AHHHHH now why did he have to go there .
I love it when subjects on whats traditional and whats not turn this way and especially when the 1840 rule gets applied . The under hammer dates back much before 1835 clear back to ?? I thin 1750 ?/ there abouts any way . The first ones were in fact flintlock .
Now as to the inline . The inline ignition system dates back to the beginning of hand and shoulder fired weapons . There are even drawings depicting maximizing soldiers firing inline ignition weapons . Now to clarify here these are not nor in any was associated with modern inline muzzle loading firearms in shape design of components or base of design purpose . IMO The basic ignition used by most modern muzzle loading firearms did not come about until late in the 19 century and then the ignition design was nut one of a muzzleloader but one of a center fire breech loader .
But back to topic
Through the years the inline ignition evolved from fuse to fuse lock , flintlock and percussion systems .
The early hale rifles were of an inline ignition and later became breech loading flintlock and in fact most likely according to production numbers they would have out numbers what the Hawkin brothers could have produced in 36 years and that just between the years of 1809 -1836 . Most documentation seems to put the Bros and around 300 rifles a year at the peak of their production .
so by there own numbers a loan the breech loading systems may have out numbers muzzleloaders in some areas of this country .
Another thing that many over look with the 1840 rule is that there is a big question mark as to if percussion was a prevalent in the mountains as we think . Not to mention that many of the rifles we see at pre 1840 events today are not pre 1840 but designs of 1850 and 1860 rifles .
See somewhere the accepted rule was that these plains style rifle were the norm ,. did they exist sure probably but how common were they .
If we take the weapons of the Alamo The date is 1836 just four short years from the last rendezvous , surly here would hold a cross section of the most common weapons of the time . Cap lock, muskets, fowlers and flint long rifles . However what was really there and what is missing that you would think would be there, considering the common use of them today by the pre 1840 rules and the opinion of commonality
http://www.geocities.com/the_tarins@sbcglobal.net/adp/history/1836/the_battle/the_weapons/small_arms.htmlIMO traditional is based somewhat on this
Traditional = not specific but general and over all in shape form and appearance. As time goes on more items are often added to this category
Period correct = is for a give time period , using materials available at the time and specific to the location , person , people of the chosen time based on the accepted documentation of that chosen time for right or wrong .
So dont be put off by the so called 1840 rule as its most likely defined more by Hollywood them by actual documentation
dont get me wrong here 1840 seems like a good cut off BUT if we are to follow it then lets follow it .
