Hello all. I read somewhere that if your lock and ignition are all working properly, a flintlock will fire upside down.

Taking a break from sighting in, I decided to give this a try. I loaded up the gun, primed the pan, closed the frizzen, full cock and then flipped 'er upside down.

Now I hold a rifle in the typical way: right hand pulls the trigger, left hand on the fore-stock. Since this was an unusual firing position, I took a moment to make sure I had a good grip before pulling the trigger.

Since it is still in the 90s here in Arizona, I was wearing shorts.

To my surprise, after pulling the trigger, the gun went off!

Then I noticed the burning sensation.

As most of you know, when the powder in the pan ignites it burns upward and outward.

Once again I was reminded that gravity is a "law" not a suggestion!

Instead of burning upward the burning powder sprayed downward directly on to my exposed forearm.

Thankfully it is only a first degree burn that was accompanied by some bleeding. Nothing that a few days with liberal doses of Neosporin and peroxide cannot fix. I'm sorry to say that the few pictures I took really don't do it justice or I would post them.

Bottom line: if you are going to test your flintlock by firing it upside down, wear a heavy sleeved shirt or jacket. Be sure it is something you won't mind getting burned.

~Robert
PS: funny thing: at the time the range master was a few feet away from me. After seeing my bleeding arm and I told him what I had done, he asked me: "now why the hell did you go and do that?"

Well you see if your lock is working properly...