doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Hammer gun nipple thread restoration

I have this neat little 410 peninusla lock Cogswell with a nipple problem. I will try to avoid puns if I can.

The nipple threads are worn so that the nipples can be removed with mere hand pressure.

The obvious repair would seem to be thread restoration with a metric tool and replacing the nipples with Italian ones offered by OMPS (the Italisn equivalent of Brownnells) hence the metric thread choice.

Before I rush where angels fear to tread, anyone have any less radical suggestions? A search on the web re nipples, other than the obvious results, turns up very little info about hammer guns and plenty on muzzle loaders.

i would think the only other option is to have the threads area built up with tig welding and recut the threads to match the nipples

I would look at SAE threads first. Sometimes when I have a british screw to make and the BA die will not work I can find a ASE thread that is close enough to work. The action body is hard so a slightly over sized soft piece to steel can often be made to conform. Kind of like a push up die works. Neat trick taught to me by a most excellent smith. Once you harden the new nipple threads should plenty strong. I actually just had to do one on a metric thread and used an SAE die to get the new screw started.

I'd be tempted to try Loctite 'Form-a-Thread' just for grins and giggles. Call it a $20 research project. It could always serve as a negative example.

There's even a cheaper method--teflon tape on the threads! Have seen this on a few muzzleloaders where the threads were worn.

Speaking of muzzleloader nipples, every British ML I have ever measured had 1/4" 28TPI threads. Nipples for Muzzle loaders come over size in many different thread diameters such as .255" x 28 or .260" x 28. You might check but if your nipples are 1/4"x28 then starting with an over sized ML nipple might be just the ticket.

My thoughts exactly, Steve.

SRH

I refreshed an old ML last year to use as a wall hanger/shooter. It came to me with oversized nipple threads. I simply checked the thread diameter with a micrometer and ordered accordingly from Track of the Wolf. The new oversized percussion nipples fit perfectly. Below is a photo of my dog and the gun with a wild pheasant I shot with it this season in Nebraska.


The gun is a 13 gauge Belgium made JABC farm implement.

Steve

The Teflon tape is the trick. My Greener had the same problem. A few turns of Teflon tape and the problem was solved. I would imagine that blue loctite would work also.

A method that was used in the days of make do and mend to tighten threads mainly because threading of parts could be a little hit and miss to say the least.
I have used this but never on a gun but I do not see any reason why it should not be successful.
Wrap some fine Copper Bronze or soft Iron wire in the nipple threads this will take up the lateral play in the thread and make things tight again.