Caring for rifles?

[Longstreet]

Question: How accurate is the use of a gun sock/sack? If they were not used, was anything used to keep rifles dry?

Mark Akerman
akermancsa@yahoo.com

[Frenchie]

Nothing like a sock or sack was issued to the Army. Maybe the specialized sharpshooter rifles had such things. Common sense was probably the most frequently-used way to keep weapons dry, e.g., putting it under your blanket. Keeping them well-oiled helped avoid rust.

[Longstreet]

Thanks for the help.
Mark

[indguard]

The gun sack/sock we all use should not be used in the field as they had nothing like it during the war in use. But, you should have one to protect the gun while driving to an event and to comply with state firearm transport regulations. Even though gun laws vary wildly from state to state, at least having it covered by a sack is a good idea.

[Longstreet]

Thanks, That is just how I use mine.

Mark

[Rob Weaver]

Nothing like a gun sock was issued by either army. However, covers made from leather and blanket cloth were common on the frontier at this same time. Francis Parkman mentions carrying his rifle in one. An extra coat of oil will help protect a musket in the field.
That being said, your musket is an expensive investment. Is anyone's event going to be ruined if you put it in a gun sock overnight? I doubt it. A couple times cleaning a Springfield so rusty it looks like a dug relic will convince you to take care of it.
Gun laws vary from state to state. Where I live, technically, a firearm is supposed to be transported unloaded (uncapped in the case of a percussion lock), in plain view. Cases are not considered plain view. So obviously, putting your musket in the trunk in a gun sock is not technically legal here. Is that how it gets home? Sure. But I live in a state with a strong hunting tradition. If I lived elsewhere, I might have to do differently.

[RJSamp]

Nothing like a gun sock was issued by either army. However, covers made from leather and blanket cloth were common on the frontier at this same time. Francis Parkman mentions carrying his rifle in one. An extra coat of oil will help protect a musket in the field.
That being said, your musket is an expensive investment. Is anyone's event going to be ruined if you put it in a gun sock overnight? I doubt it. A couple times cleaning a Springfield so rusty it looks like a dug relic will convince you to take care of it.
Gun laws vary from state to state. Where I live, technically, a firearm is supposed to be transported unloaded (uncapped in the case of a percussion lock), in plain view. Cases are not considered plain view. So obviously, putting your musket in the trunk in a gun sock is not technically legal here. Is that how it gets home? Sure. But I live in a state with a strong hunting tradition. If I lived elsewhere, I might have to do differently.

I'm from Wisconsin. You put your gun in a case and you put it in the trunk. Unloaded.

Strong hunting tradition in Wisconsin.

[tompritchett]

I'm from Wisconsin. You put your gun in a case and you put it in the trunk. Unloaded.

In some states it merely has to be in a case and not readily accessible to the passengers to be legal.