Research Press - Print Page

Research Press
http://www.lrml.org/cgi-bin/researchpress/YaBB.pl
British Firearms (Pre. 1914) >> Accoutrements and Accessories >> An Unusual Pattern #7 Private's Tool
http://www.lrml.org/cgi-bin/researchpress/YaBB.pl?num=1194391074

Message started by paetnyc on 11/06/07 at 11:17pm

Title: An Unusual Pattern #7 Private's Tool
Post by paetnyc on 11/06/07 at 11:17pm

Here is an interesting Pattern #7 Private's wrench/combination tool that appears to be a standard #7 tool in all respects, that is until you notice the corkscrew where there normally would be an oiling pin. The corkscrew fits into the tool's oil chamber and could easily serve the purpose of the pin.

Certainly an odd one! I contacted the owner of this tool and was told that he had encountered several others, very similar to this one, over the past 10 years.

Has anyone noted another of these Pattern #7s or other patterns with a corkscrew? Is this tool an obscure pattern? Homemade alteration? Altered by a wine or whiskey loving soldier (corkscrew perhaps not easily detectable upon kit inspection!)? All thoughts, comments or opinions appreciated.

Regards,

Dave
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/nygtca2/ca14_121.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/nygtca2/c9e6_121.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/nygtca2/ca36_121.jpg

Title: Re: An Unusual Pattern #7 Private's Tool
Post by A._Roads on 11/07/07 at 2:42am

Hi Dave,
This is truly a fascinating item & has me in the same quandry as you. If it was purely a "one off" I'd say that someone has taken a standard Pattern No. 7 Privates tool, drawn out the oil pin under heat & formed the "corkscrew" - why? who knows.
There is what appears to be a fold line groove running around the "corkscrew" wire, does this support the idea described above?

However if the recent owner has seen several tools, over a period of a decade, with this same "corkscrew" in lieu of oil pin, then one has to speculate that perhaps it is a rather rare unaltered tool. Though this chap is more of a cork screw collector that a gun tool collector, its also therefore not impossible that he is mistaken, saw the worm on the arm & never actually removed the oil pin for inspection etc.

Of note is that the # 7 pattern tool was approved in mid 1862, right about when the W.D. was into capping breech loaders. These required a tool with a nipple wrench, vent prick, oil & oiling pin, the screw drivers and, ideally, a chamber cleaner. The regular worm was in theory surplus to requirements, however these arms could be used as a muzzle loader in case of emergency & so worm retention could be justified. Could the "corkscrew" have been intended as a chamber cleaner for such a gun? As pointed out, it would still function as an oiling pin as well. It is rather small in diameter for the chamber calibre (one has to assume .577 based on the attached regular worm diameter), but it could have easily been wrapped with extra cloth or tow to do the job.
The Westley Richards "Monkey Tail" carbines in the service were issued with a specific tool (well documented though I have yet to see one that conforms exactly to the L.o.C drawings) and also with a separate device for cleaning the chamber.
It is not impossible that the tool shown here is perhaps a limited issue item superseded by the Westley Richards tool, or perhaps was used for one of the other capping breechloaders in limited use.

Centrefire cartridge arms did not require this configuration - as transpired on the undocumented "Snider" tools which survive in modest number. �

It was listed by the owner as a pistol tool, & if so the corkscrew could have been intended to draw charges from a short barrel, or to clean same. But I don't think this is the case. About the only thing short enough for it to access would have been a revolver's cylinder. Two types of percussion revolvers were issued (three actually, the Adams was in two calibres). One, the Colt Navy had an entirely different nipple wrench & no need for the regular worm etc. Two, the Beaumont Adams, its nipples could not be removed by the regular issue nipple wrench, requiring one slightly smaller & of which I only know of one sample, & which happens to be Enfield & WD marked.
I can't think of any use for this "corkscrew" on an ordinary percussion pistol, no more than I can on the P/53 family of carbines & rifles etc.

The mystery I suspect will turn largely on whether or not other examples have been seen.

My thoughts
Adrian

Title: Re: An Unusual Pattern #7 Private's Tool
Post by Bill_Curtis on 11/07/07 at 9:56am

I am sure that this is no more than it purports to be, viz., a corkscrew. �It may be a commercial item intended as an accessory for the Volunteer who thought it would save a bit of weight and space in his kitbag. �At that time a corkscrew was an essential piece of kit. �The construction of this item appears professional to me and if others are known this will tend confirm their commercial origin.

Title: Re: An Unusual Pattern #7 Private's Tool
Post by A._Roads on 11/07/07 at 7:59pm

Hi Bill,
I had assumed that the presence of Enfield inspectors marks on the parts in question would mean that it was not a commercially made item, its not good to assume I know, but is that not the case?
Regards,
Adrian.

Title: Re: An Unusual Pattern #7 Private's Tool
Post by Bill_Curtis on 11/07/07 at 10:44pm

Adrian

I think that the maker of these (if indeed there were a number) simply bought up surplus obsolete WD items and converted them. The pattern of the worm with its spiral groove is absolutely typical of Victorian corkscrews.

I note you have now come back to earth after your Arabian adventures - welcome to the real world !

Cheers,
Bill