Any suggestions for a place that fixes original 1863 Bridesburg (Springfield pattern) muskets? The screw that the hammer pivots on finally broke its head off after 154 years of dry firing.
Are you OK with shipping it to someone? There seem to be a decent number of antique gun restoration businesses around, but pretty scattered...
Come on Forbin! Do I need to see your "man card"? Everyone should have a go-to "car guy" "home entertainment system guy" "computer guy" and an "1863 Bridesburg (Springfield pattern) musket guy". Okay I might talk mine into coming over to see you but it might cost you a case of beer.
What with him being so crafty and handy, I'm amazed Forbin doesn't just have the equipment to thread new screws from scratch.
History will record the apocalypse as starting at some guys yard in New Jersey over a gun. Way to go New Jersey.
I might be able to find out, a friend of mine has several 3 Band muskets. He used to do Civil War Renactments pretty often. You might have to ship it somewhere though.
A random and possibly stupid thought ... if you don't want to ship it and there aren't any antique gun people around, what about asking a clockmaker to take a look? They know how to deal with small moving metal parts, and might have some ability to fabricate things ...
I'll probably see him Monday. He's hard to get a hold of on the phone. He's always leaving it behind or the battery dies.