[OH Osthaus]

a load in the barrels will not prevent removing them - but here is how to verify

take the ramrod - or a long dowel or your modern cleaning rod (with no attachments) if its missing - insert it in the barrel and mark the rod at the muzzle of the gun with something like a piece of masking tape- now lay the rod along the top of the barrel with the tape aligned in the same spot on the muzzle- if the barrel is empty the end of the rod should be very close to where the nipples enter the breech - you can determine the angle by looking at them -there can be a very small difference depending on the size of the rod and how or if the breech is coned

but if the gap is more than a small fraction of an inch - put the key back and find a gun shop or local black powder club and ask for assistance in pulling the load


black powder does not decay - if g-g-g-g-g-grandpa left a load in the musket he had at Lexington it can still go off with a spark - and pulling a load takes care because very rarely the act of pulling can set it off - i don't understand the science but seems to be some affect of a vacuum

now if this measuring shows the barrel to be empty, then try the key again and gently wiggle it out a little more at the place it is stuck while slightly compressing the forend over that spot - the wood could have swollen over the past hundred and what ever years and the key is hanging up at the edge of the barrel loop it fits into- i have one like that - a slight squeeze to get it out and to slide it back in