First off, this is NOT to Bash the Knight Plunger Guns, this is to try and help Educate the importance of Cleaning the Bolt Assembly To PRESERVE them

Same friend of mine that bought the Knight Bighorn a year or so ago Dropped it back off with me to install New Sights on it. I did my normal “Check” To make sure it was clean, That had been cleaned properly. Everything Looked GREAT, that was until i pulled the Bolt Assembly apart.

This is the 2nd time i have Found this Bolt assembly in this Condition. This happens after firing just 1 Shot and Not Properly cleaning, and Lubing. These things ABSOLUTELY need to be Cleaned, Dried, and Oiled. And in my opinion the Best way to do that Thoroughly is to Pull the Bolt Assembly apart. All you need is an 1/8” Allen Key to Remove the Screw in the Back, then take it apart. This is SIMPLE to do Guy’s, and will Save these Parts. The Old Saying, “You can lead a Horse to Water, But you can’t make it Drink” APPLIES Here.


This is the 1st time i had this Same Gun, it was bought brand new, it had only been shot a Few times here, this was it’s VERY first time of being Shot. It was a good thing i got ahold of it when i did.

Knight made a Stainless Hammer Assembly as well, Being Stainless They are MUCH MUCH more forgiving. My Old MK-85 Hammer was Stainless. This is not against my Friend I bought the Rifle From, He told me that he had never Had the Bolt apart, that he wasn’t sure how to do it? Somehow he was able to do a pretty Good Job of Cleaning without taking his Bolt Apart (Again, it was Stainless and MUCH MUCH More Forgiving) After Buying the Rifle I Pulled the Bolt apart.

As you can see, The Spring end that goes inside the Collar Tells the Tale that it wasn’t Cleaned, The Collar, Bolt Stem, etc. was easily Wiped Clean, NO RUST Due to it Being Stainless, and my friend Obviously did a pretty good Job of Getting in there even though he didn’t take the Bolt apart. Try this with a Blued Bolt Assembly, you will have a ROTTED out Piece of Junk in Short order! It’s a Shame that Knight didn’t continue on With the Stainless Hammer Assemblies as they are MUCH more Tolerant to not being Cleaned Properly.

These things get NASTY Dirty, This is just 6 Shots with Swiss 2F Real Black, The Nipple in this Rifle was a BRAND NEW Treso/Ampco with Tiny .028 Flash Hole, as You can CLEARLY see that even with the Tiny .028 Flash Hole There is stil a LOT of Blowback that makes it’s way back around the Bolt, and of Course inside the Reciever


Inside The Reciever is BLACK as Coal from Blow Back. You need to get in here and get ALL of that out, Back to Shiny Steel. I found these Plunger Guns to be a ROYAL PITA to Clean, I mean THOROUGHLY Clean the way they Should be. I personally wouldn’t have another one. My Knight Mountaineer RUINED me You get NONE of this!!


This was a Brand New THICK Polypropylene Sock, I used The Thickest portion of it Between the Reciever and Scope to Protect the Scope Finish from Blow Back. Good thing i knew to do that, These things will DESTROY a Scope finish in 1 Shot. My Mountaineer, NEVER have to worry about this, She’s Sealed up

It might look like i am picking on the Plunger Guns, I am HONESTLY NOT Doing that, Though I am honest in Saying that i personally don’t like the Plunger Guns, and will never own another. The True intent here is to show the importance of Getting in there and getting these Guns PROPERLY Cleaned, and what happens if you Don’t.

I have owned the MK-85, and have hands on experience with the Knight Bighorn (Basically the same thing as the MK) And i owned a White Super 91, Of these 3 Rifles, The Old White Super 91 Was my Favorite, and not just because it was a .451 (Though that did make a difference ) I personally felt the Sealed Bolt assembly of the Ole White S91 to be Superior to the MK and Bighorn, I found The White Bolt assembly MUCH easier to Clean/Care For.

One last note, After THOROUGHLY Cleaning these Guns it is important to Get them BONE DRY, I use a little Air Compressor with a Reduced Nozzle That allows me to “Pin Point” Air Flow, I can get in EVERY little Nook n Cranny and Blow it Dry, Now days you can own a little Pancake Style Air Compressor Cheap, and get yourself a Reduced Air Nozzle. My Handheld Steam Cleaner, and Little Air Compressor are 2 VERY used Tools in Cleaning my Blackpowder Rifles. Even the Rifles I bought Brand New, Look better today than when i bought them, My Rifles are METICULOUSLY Clean. And the Cool Part is, it is SUPER EASY to do with the Right tools, actually a pleasure to Clean