Smoke,

I don't know anything about guns, compared to you, but modern day hunters 
apparently apply manufactured lead washers to their stock bolts to "balance" 
their rifles, see:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=859739

I don't know how far back this practice may have existed, but nowadays there 
are manufacturers who manufacture (or at least advertise) lead washers for 
this specialized purpose. I would imagine, that in years past, if lead 
washers were used for such purpose, they must have adapted the lead washers 
that were manufactured/available (e.g., those used as gaskets under the nail 
heads) for applying metal roofs (which, I am told, has been an ancient 
practise <sp> in England, where many of the extant roofs of cathedrals and 
churches remain as sheet lead applied centuries ago).

Perhaps the washers Mark inquires about were adaptations of lead washers 
manufactured for a different purpose (like roofing) and adapted for use in 
vising flints? It seems it would be a simple matter to to have folded the 
manufactured roofing washers to adapt them as ideal flint grips/pads, the 
hole adding to the adaptability of the washers rather than detracting.

Regards,
Bob Skiles

-----Original Message----- 
From: Smoke
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 2:36 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Lead gunflint wraps ....

It has been many years since I read this but I seem to recall (and NOT from
personal memory as some would suggest) that many of the wooden boxes of
supplies of the Lewis and Clark expedition were lined with lead sheeting
that could be cut to shape with a knife and used to secure the flints to the
jaws of the flintlock (easy to do with nice thin sheet lead). However, most
frontier folks used small chunks of leather for the same job. Lighter and
cheaper.

The lead box lining was used to waterproff the suppies, provide flint/jaw
material, and since every rifle came with its own mold back then, hunters
who were low on lead balls could cast what they needed from used boxes of
supplies.  The wood boxes then became kindling for fire starting.  Nothing
was wasted.  Since lead can be melted in a small campfire and could made as
needed, I really doubt that anyone would manufacture them and sell them
commercially.

On Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 2:25 PM, Mark Branstner 
<[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Posing a question for one of my colleagues, Rob Hickson ...
>
> We are doing some research on the sheet lead washers that were used to 
> wrap
> gunflints in order to secure them in the jaws of a flintlock firearm ...
>
> Now, some of these are clearly homemade, but some appear to be 
> manufactured
> specifically for this purpose, often with a hole relieved at the folding
> point at the back of the gunflint.
>
> (1)     Is there a standard term for describing these? I have heard
> "washer", "wrap", "cap" ....
>        Is there a contemporary term? Perhaps out of the fur trade or
> shorekeeper literature?
>
> (2)     Any references that people can remember? From either domestic or
> military sites?
>
> Any help or leads will be greatly appreciated!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark
>
>
> --
>
> Mark C. Branstner, RPA
> Historic Archaeologist
>
> Illinois State Archaeological Survey
> Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability
> University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
> 209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
> 23 East Stadium Drive
> Champaign, IL 61820
>
> Phone: 217.244.0892
> Fax: 217.244.7458
> Cell: 517.927.4556
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> When you think of that perfect retort five minutes after the conversation
> is over -  that's when you're:
>
>  "... bursting with the belated eloquence of the inarticulate ..."
>
> Edith Wharton in the "The Age of Innocence"
>



-- 
Smoke Pfeiffer

There is nothing in the middle of the road
but yellow stripes and dead armadillos.