Rev Alexander Forsyth, a Minister from
Aberdeenshire, who invented the percussion method of discharging a
firearm. The advantage of percussion ignition was immediately recognised
by most British gunsmiths and numerous types of percussion-lock were soon
developed. The most common type of lock consisted of a hollow nipple
screwing into the barrel on which was placed a small copper cap containing
fulminate of mercury and as the trigger was pulled, the hammer rotated
downwards crushing the cap. The fulminate exploded under the blow,
producing a flame which travelled down the hollow nipple and ignited the
propellant charge.
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