Storing musket with a tompon?

[Tkessen]

Dear All,


I just got a tompon for my Enfield and I was wondering if it is better to store the rifle with the tompon in or out. Does it matter? If it does, should I put the nipple protector on too?

Thanks,
Tkessen

[Poor Private]

I also store mine with a Tompion, I also oil mine when cleaning before the tompion goes in. The tompion never goes in a dirty musket. A bore sight gets dropped down the barrel quite frequently and I don't spot any rust whatsoever. The key is a good cleaning and oiling.
I have a 1863 Comtract Remington(Zouve) displayed on the living wall with a tompion inserted in it for several months with the hammer down and I find no rust anytime I take it down to give it a spot check.

[Tkessen]

I thought if the rifle is plugged from both ends, it would be harder for moisture to get in and rust the bore. Is this correct?

Tkessen

[Tkessen]

This is a stupid question, but while I'm asking about a tompon I might as well ask it. Where did soldiers store their tompons? In a haversack (I know it's used to store food), in a pocket, or in the pouch on a cartridge box?


Tkessen

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

I sincerely hope you are using a tompion for your musket and not a tompon, which is an inking pad used in the printing trade....

[Pvt Schnapps]

I use one of the corks I've carved up for my inkwells. Oddly enough, most of them work for .58 caliber.

[50th VA Corporal]

This is a stupid question, but while I'm asking about a tompon I might as well ask it. Where did soldiers store their tompons? In a haversack (I know it's used to store food), in a pocket, or in the pouch on a cartridge box?


Tkessen

Not really a stupid question, however....

I asked the same question on the AC forum years ago and mis-spelled it and was the butt end of jokes throughout the entire thread.

It does not fit in the implement pouch in the cartridge box; some tie it on a string and attach it to the sling swivel, some put it in their haversacks. But I do believe that ultimately those who kept them put them in one of their pockets, which is where I keep mine most of the time.

I do believe after the thread ran its course that is what the common thought was. However, being at the butt end of someone's jokes I abandoned reading the thread.

[Tkessen]

Sorry about the misspelling. The tampion is made of cork and has a brass cap on the top. That's used for rifles and not ink, right?


Tkessen

[flattop32355]

Sorry about the misspelling. The tampion is made of cork and has a brass cap on the top. That's used for rifles and not ink, right?

T-O-M-P-I-O-N.

There are worse things than misspelling the word, but not many are as amusing.

[Pvt Schnapps]

Sorry about the misspelling. The tampion is made of cork and has a brass cap on the top. That's used for rifles and not ink, right?


Tkessen

Yes, absolutely. But I lost my first one and my little pug Daphne ate the next one, so I just settled on the corks I carved for my inkwells for the duration, having always a supply at hand.