SQ1: Percussion Cap Immersion

[Charles Heath]

Before crossing shallow bodies of water (up to chest deep), reenactors typically prepare themselves in a number of ways. I'm curious as to anyone having any experience with immersing percussion caps for more than 30 minutes in cool water. I tested five (three yellow, and two green) last week with mixed results. Thanks in advance for your thoughtful answers.

[Tom Craig]

Having been immersed, gear and all into Goose Creek early last month, I can say that my unscientific experiment produced both caps and cartridges that were completely unusable.

I was deposited in the creek after being unhorsed, and only remained in the water for a matter of minutes, but the damage had been done. The water (and river silt) had penetrated all my buttoned up boxes and rendered everything useless.

Your milage may vary...
Take care,
Tom Craig

[Charles Heath]

Thanks, Tom. I suspect the amount of time the fellows may be in the water will totally negate the usefulness of the percussion caps, unless the waistbelt with the cap pouch and caps are lifted out of the water along with the cartridge box. This was a fairly common period practice at water crossings.

[benjaminmcgee]

Sir,

Did you try the search function.


Benjamin McGee

[Charles Heath]

I see Ben is rapidly on his way to being an "Evil-Mean Hardcore." Congrats, Ben.

Heheheh. He's trainable!

[Kevin O'Beirne]

I think that Ben needs to be understanding of the person who made the request and take the time to type out ofr the 100th time his standard, research-based reply to the original post. It's his obligation, after all, for reading this forum.

Many here will get the "inside joke" that this post constitutes.

[benjaminmcgee]

Mr. Heath,

I'm glad I could add a spark of warmth to your cold cold heart:wink_smil

Benjamin McGee

[Pvt Peck]

Peck, you might just want to learn to follow the rules and sign your name to your posts, as you agreed to do when you joined the AC Forum. Thanks.

Charles Heath
Dragging out the mod squad hat

Point taken and I apologize, I wrote my pithy reply in the wee hours of the morning and was probably a bit sleep deprived.

Ted Parrott
"Humbug"

[JustRob]

I'm thinking anyone with the wherewithall to take his catridge box off to avoid it getting soaked would be smart enough to remove the cap pouch and possibly bayonet, too.

[Charles Heath]

Rob, if you happen to be wearing chevrons that day, remember to remind them to do so.

[Malingerer]

So, this swamp, might it be of the tidewater persuasion?

[Charles Heath]

Freshwater, actually, and the darn shame is the place is simply polluted with a multitude of fat and sassy beavers. At one point, they've built a lodge nearly 6 feet above the water, and there is a damn that is a marvel of engineering at well over 100 feet in length. Plus these deer who are descended from those imported from Michigan back during the great conservation movement. Dang, it won't be an immersion experience due to these modern intrusions!

[flattop32355]

I'm thinking anyone with the wherewithall to take his catridge box off to avoid it getting soaked would be smart enough to remove the cap pouch and possibly bayonet, too.

You are thinking again...therein lies your error. :wink_smil

[Dan Munson]

Originally Posted by JustRob
I'm thinking anyone with the wherewithall to take his catridge box off to avoid it getting soaked would be smart enough to remove the cap pouch and possibly bayonet, too.

Hmmm. I'm thinking that anyone with the wherewithal to take off his cartridge box WITHOUT also (first) removing his waist belt, cap pouch, etc., wears his gear a might differently than most of us do! :)

[Charles Heath]

Dan, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if people removed their cartridge box, and then re-connected their waistbelt; however, this does add one more bit of practical application to wearing the box on the belt as a one step process rather than the normal two step process.