Jonaus, my assistant at Ace Hardware, had handled the metal pipe for several minutes before he did a double-take.
"I just realized what this is," he said.
It was the barrel of my Knight Mk. 85 muzzleloader, with the trigger and plunger assembly removed.
"That's why I removed all of the hardware," I said. "I didn't want to freak everybody out."
"That wouldn't bother anybody here," Jonaus said. "People come in all the time with fully assembled firearms looking for parts."
Gun parts at a hardware store?
Last week I tested some new powder -- Blackhorn 209 -- with the Mk. 85. It doesn't work in the Mk. 85.
I would have known that if I had read the label on the bottle before I loaded the rifle. It shows photos of all the 209 ignition nipples that are suitable for Blackhorn 209. The nipple on my gun is not on the list. The nipple on my Knight KRB7 isn't approved either, but it does shoot sometimes. Two rounds from the KRB7 hit the target. Two rounds didn't even reach the target. All four were hangfires, but back to the Mk. 85.
It's an old model the predates Knight's vaunted DISC rifles. I bought it new and cheap from a local dealer who'd had it on inventory for ages. It's so old that it came with an instructional video on VHS cassette. I upgraded its original percussion cap ignition system to a 209 primer system, and I bought a bunch of 209 discs to go with it. That's fine if you shoot Triple 7 pellets, White Hots pellets or even Pyrodex pellets, but it won't fire loose powder.
Aside from that, the Mk. 85 is a quality firearm. It has a Green Mountain barrel and an adjustable Timney trigger. It has one major flaw, though, the one that precipitated the visit to the hardware store. To remove the breech plug for cleaning, you must also remove the plunger assembly and the trigger group. A small cap screw holds the trigger group to the barrel. While carrying all these parts from my backyard range to my cleaning station back at the house, I lost the screw. I couldn't find it, even after combing my path with a large shop magnet.
I didn't find a replacement available on Knight's Web site. Numrich's, a large online muzzleloader parts dealer, was sold out. I called a gunsmith. He recommended Ace Hardware because he said it prides itself on carrying a large selection of oddball screws.
"If you strike out there, I keep a bunch of old Model 93 Knights around here for parts," he said. "I'll sell you one dirt cheap."
Monday morning I trotted into Ace, where I met Jonaus. When he recognized what he was dealing with, he got excited. He's a hunter and a gun enthusiast, and an avid reader of this column. This was no longer a matter of finding a screw. It was a mission.
Danged if he didn't find one that fit, sort of. It bound in the threads on the second turn.
"We'll probably have to re-tap the threads, if that's OK with you," he said.
"As long as it holds that trigger tight," I replied
Jonaus barely turned the tap. It continued freely.
"We had it right all along," Jonaus said. "It was probably just a little junk in there."
The screw fit tight.
"We usually have stuff that'll fit rifles and shotguns," Jonaus said. "If it's a handgun, though, you're out of luck because they all use custom specialty screws."
"We ought to take it out back and shoot it," he added. "You know, make sure it works."
"Wouldn't that be a rodeo, shooting a muzzleloader without a stock?" I replied.
I really think Jonaus was disappointed that we didn't try it.
So here I sit with an expensive can of Blackhorn 209 powder that I can't use. It's only Triple 7 pellets for me, and that's fine, I guess. I was happy with it for years until writers who know more than I do convinced me I shouldn't be.
I bet they'd be horrified if they found out that Jonaus got my rifle back in business for the princely sum of 49 cents.
At a hardware store, no less.
Sports on 10/02/2014