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Gun explodes, arm lost

Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
edited January 2002 in General Discussion
Gun explodes, arm lostBy CPKITCHENER, Ont. -- A 36-year-old woman had her left arm amputated just below the elbow after a musket she was holding exploded in her hand. The Cambridge, Ont., woman, whose name has not been released by police, was holding a muzzle-loading antique flintlock musket when it ignited and shrapnel went flying in all directions on Tuesday night. When police arrived at the home after 9 p.m., parts of the woman's fingers were lying on the back porch. Doctors were unable to save her arm with reconstructive surgery. The flintlock musket, which was 150 years old, was worth about $3,000. The man, who was also hurt but did not go to hospital, bought the rifle about five years ago and had never fired it. Staff Sgt. Al Cassidy said the man had all the paperwork for the guns and had them stored properly in cases. But because of the accident, police removed the guns from the home and the owner could face charges of unsafe handling of a firearm, police said. "I would describe this guy as a responsible owner," Cassidy said. The man, who has known the woman for a few years, is in shock and doesn't know how the gun went off, Cassidy said. Sgt. Rudy Smith of Waterloo regional police said the woman was visiting the man for dinner when the pair began talking about three antique rifles on the fireplace mantel. The man took one of the rifles and they both went out to the back porch. The man, who is an avid hunter, is a member of a local gun club and shoots competitively. The woman, who wore protective goggles, took the 4.5 kg rifle and held it while the man put some gunpowder in it. "He was going to show her how it worked," Smith said. "She had never held a gun before." Smith said the man is unsure if the woman pulled the trigger or if the powder caused a spark that led to the explosion. http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonNews/es.es-01-03-0041.html
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Comments

  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    It is pretty darn hard to blow up a muzzleloader with black powder and no projectile. It should just go 'fut'. Even smokeless, with no projectile in the barrel, should not have caused a problem. I wonder if there was some ancient load in the chamber? Always check!
    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Damn bad luck. I guess it would be prudent to proof load these old rifles and shotguns but who really wants to risk damaging them.I have heard of black powder shotgun barrels bursting and taking off arms in the old days.
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  • talontalon Member Posts: 150 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Jonk has a very good point. All front loaders are always just as loaded as cartridge guns. Always consider them so until positively checked, such as runing a rod to, or past the flash hole. Black powder is dangerous no matter how old it is, or if it was ever wet.
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  • 22WRF22WRF Member Posts: 3,385
    edited November -1
    This just don't add up. Looks like the press is ad-libbing again. This guy was a "Responsible" gun owner? I think not.Anyone with 1/2 a brain would use the ramrod to determine is there was charge in the barrel before putting another one in.I'm not aware of black powder "exploding" from putting it in the barrel unless it was just fired and you didn't swab it out even it would just burn, not explode."Not sure if she pulled the trigger"? Responsible people don't charge cocked guns.I think this is a press slam at "Responsible" gun owners. Trying to make those of us who are look like a bunch of idiots.
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  • etc12819etc12819 Member Posts: 140 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Staff Sgt. Cassidy said the man had all the paperwork for the guns and had them stored properly in cases. Since when do you have to have "paperwork for blackpowder"? I dont care if you are in Canada. And then. Police removed the rest of the guns from the house. Something not right here.
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  • 22WRF22WRF Member Posts: 3,385
    edited November -1
    Who said what, who's lying and who is misquoted"Staff Sgt. Al Cassidy said the man had all the paperwork for the guns and had them stored properly in cases". Sgt. Rudy Smith of Waterloo regional police said the woman was visiting the man for dinner when the pair began talking about three antique rifles on the fireplace mantel.So where were they? In cases or over the mantel [This message has been edited by 22WRF (edited 01-04-2002).]
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  • Judge DreadJudge Dread Member Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Doble-loading,22WRF said it all ,it is the most common and worst accident with this type of gun ,the leading charge is "detonated" by the previous one.
    Ignis Natura Renovatur Integram
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