6-wing musket caps?

[Dutchman Dick]

Did 6-wing musket caps exist in this country during the Civil War? And if so, were they used by either side in any quantity? I ask for 2 reasons: first, because that's all I seem to be able to find in the local stores (though I could order them online); and second, I saw some in a group of excavated relics for sale on Ebay, though since they came from a battlefield, for all I know they could have been dropped by reenactors. I know that some reenactment groups have banned their use during events supposedly because they have had problems with fragmentation (I haven't run into this problem myself).

[Mcouioui]

Others will confirm, but for me the answer, is not, for what I know, it is a modern invention for sportsman firing, 6 wings...

[Andrew Kasmar]

Hi,

I have some original caps, and they are all 4 wing. But that being said, I really do not know if there were other types.

[LibertyHallVols]

I know of no original 6-wing musket caps. However, I can confirm the fragmentation of the CCI copper 6-wing caps. You will find that the awareness of this issue is nearly universal and they are banned from most events.

It is a shame that some maker cannot make safe, 4-winged caps from copper!

[BrandonEnglish]

I can confirm that all the original caps I own and have seen are all 4 winged. I can also atest to having my neck sprayed upon by 6 wing caps leaving a nice blood stain on one of my shirts.

[Curt Schmidt]

Hallo!

The "six wing" caps were designed to power the modern "in-line" ignition systems.

Curt

[Mcouioui]

I agree, they are effectively more dangerous and anyway, to having had practice 2 years sportsman firing, 6 are a modern invention for the sportsman (Easier to remove) now when they were invented, I do not know, I would say 20th century...

[Dutchman Dick]

Thanks! Like I said, I haven't run into the fragmentation problem myself...yet. I HAVE noticed that the 6-wing caps tend to blow out into a "star" shape, flattening as far as the hammer-nose cavity on my Enfield will allow them to go.

Any recommendations on who makes decent 4-wing caps, and who to order them from? I don't have gas money to travel to any events right now to buy them there (funds are currently tied up in my Enfield defarb! ), so online ordering is my only option for the present time.

[pvt_jb]

I have been hit with a piece of cap from a 6 wing myself. No blood but it stung. The other problem with them is how loud or sharp they are when fired. Because of this I find the 6 wings when fired next to my head actually hurt my hearing.

Now, where to buy the German caps. I don't remember the name since I am at work. However, I believe Blockade Runner will ship them out. I know Fall Creek only sells then at events now. I have found them at two small local gun shops in southeastern Michigan. I just had to keep my eyes open.

[ACo.]

Hallo!

The "six wing" caps were designed to power the modern "in-line" ignition systems.

Curt

Herr Schmidt is correct, the 6 wing caps are meant to open up more on firing so that the used cap is easier to remove from the cone. This is necessary for some of the modern junk (ooops, sorry, I meant inline) firearms since the cone is located in a tight space. AFAIK, they six wing caps are about as correct as an inline at a reenactment and they can be dangerous due to fragmentation. Do your best to find 4 wing caps.