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Parts for arms of pre-1899 design. Components only — we never sell a firearm.

Percussion Lock & Ignition

Bolster

The housing the nipple threads into.

Also called

  • cone seat
  • drum
5

Arms it fits

5

Documented parts

None today

In stock now

3

Names recorded

Identification

Notes on the bolster are still at the bench

Identification notes are written one part at a time, from pieces Butch has had in hand — so this section fills in as he works through the vocabulary rather than all at once. If you are trying to identify a bolster you already own, he answers those directly at butch@butchsantiquegunparts.com.

Vocabulary

Other names for the bolster

2 recorded

The same component has been called different things by different makers, manuals and trades. Each term is printed with whatever is recorded about where it comes from.

  • cone seat
  • drum

Fits

Bolster by model

5 arms

Will it fit

No interchange recorded yet

Butch Schoeller writes these notes only from parts he has handled. A blank section means nothing has been checked yet — not that everything fits.

From the bench

Availability

Nothing of this type is listed at the moment. Most of this catalog is one-of-a-kind, so stock turns over item by item rather than being restocked — posting a wanted listing is the reliable route, and aggregated requests are what tell Butch which parts to make next.

The reference

Documented examples

5 entries

1841 Mississippi Rifle Bolster

1841 Mississippi Rifle

British Enfield Musket Parts Bolster

British Enfield Musket

U.S. 1855 Harpers Ferry And Springfield Bolster

U.S. 1855 Harpers Ferry And Springfield

U.S. Military Percussion Rifles And Muskets Bolster

U.S. Military Percussion Rifles And Muskets

U.S. Model 1855 Rifled Musket Bolster

U.S. Model 1855 Rifled Musket

Check it yourself

Sources

2 sources

Period and institutional material relevant to this entry. Listed so it can be checked, not as decoration — nothing here has been through expert review yet.

  1. 1.Manual of heavy artillery service : prepared for the use of the army and militia of the United StatesTidball, John C. (John Caldwell), 1825-1906 · Washington, D.C. : J. J. Chapman · University of California Libraries · 1884
  2. 2.Artillery for the United States land serviceUnited States. Army. Ordnance Dept; Mordecai, Alfred, 1804-1887 · Washington, J. and G.S. Gideon, printers · University of California Libraries · 1849

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