Budd Case Wrench
 

I’m asking for a friend.

He owns Parker SN 115 and it’s unusual case full of fitted accessories. There are cleaning tools and reloading tools. Budd is known for the Budd-Kopecky cleaning tools. The gun and case belonged to Ogden Deramus Budd.

There is a short handled 3/8” opening wrench that we have not been able to determine its use. Anybody?

That is a beautiful gun and set. Only thing that I can think of is it must be in conjunction with implementation or installation of those tubes. Those in combination with another tool must have some sort of application. Those are the only big enough items that it would appear to involve a wrench of that size. Or something to do the with the hammers. These are Captain Obvious points though.

Maybe it has nothing to do with gun and it was just a spare wrench to throw in gun case to tighten a buggy wheel nut. I have seen some square buggy wheel nuts that would fit.

Could it be to hold Barrels by the lug to implement cleaning or something like that? It might make sense

Nipple wrench for the strikers?

Are there flats on the cleaning rod accessories?

Probably too big to fit the square hammer shafts? You could cock the gun with the hammers off if it fit. Or as offered, for the nipples.

Wrench for the early square nipples or nuts retaining the strikers.





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Absolutely no idea but that whole set up is really cool.

What square nipples are we talking about ?

The retaining nut that holds the offset firing pin in place on early lifters.

But I’m beginning to think not. The wrench looks too large to be used in such tight quarters.

Bruce, does this gun even have 3/8” nuts? And are they even square?



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Bruce, Just send me the gun Ill figure it out then Ill send it back it may take me awhile !

The wrench jaws are too wide to fit the plunger retaining nuts. These are 3/8”, the plunger nuts are 1/4”.

Bruce

Are there square shoulders on the ends of the wood cleaning rods that are approximately 3/8" across ? If so , it could be to tighten or loosen the cleaning rod connections---just a guess .

Allan

I think Allen has it if those are square ends on the cleaning rod.

It does not appear to be a very delicate tool and is such a beefy looking wrench. It also appears to have been used a good bit showing signs of wear. It also has a broad side that would allow it to reach down in a recessed area. Very strange.

If not as part tool assembly as other mentioned and on outward appearance on gun it is not clear if it was used directly on gun.

Can't tell clearly but there does appear to be a metal butt plate. Could there be something on the stock under that buttplate that would have a nut that size needing servicing. Or a nut that size somewhere hidden behind the sideplates of action. That maybe something unique to that gun but I put it at long odds that a reason for wrench. It also look worn enough and solid enough that it was used for something common.

I can see why this is a stumper for someone even with Bruce's vast experience because its reason for existence just doesn't jump out. The only other thought it, was it was remnant wrench that fit something in tool set that needed that wrench but then over the years changed it something smaller and did not need wrench, but just left it as part of the set. There maybe no easy reason for it or there maybe some unique trick for its use that is eluding.

What size are the square handles on the screw drivers? Could it be used to turn those?

Wasn't the Budd of gun implement fame named Charles W. Budd?

Bruce,
The gun in question has back action locks. I suspect that this is a mainspring cramp. When the locks are dismounted and the hammers are cocked the cramp is placed on the mainspring, then the sear is released and the hammers are let down, but the spring is still compressed and the spring can be removed from the lock for a complete cleaning. When the cleaning is done the process is reversed and the lock reassembled and is ready to go back into action.
But I could be wrong, would need the locks and the tool in hand to prove the point...
Bob

If that were the case Bob, wouldn’t there be two of these spring retainers, one for each lock?... or maybe just one is sufficient if removing and disassembling one lock at a time....






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Since the wrench is fitted near the wad cutter I am curious if the shaft on the wad cutter is the same size as the wrench. Possibly for rotating the cutter between strikes with a hammer/mallet?
-Brett

I vote mainspring clamp. Similar clamps were government issue for US Muskets through the Trapdoor era. Only reservation is the size . Have to look at it beside the lock to be sure.

See the similarity? http://www.ssfirearms.com/products.asp?cat=55

William

I like the mainspring clamp idea. Something like that would certainly work for that on my 1842 Springfield musket.

That one is crudely made doubt if it is from Parker. The US clamps and combo tools were not high polish, but very well made. I would not expect less from Parker.

William

S&S firearms is a good source, not expensive. http://www.ssfirearms.com/

William

It looks like it might fit to the width of the barrel lug on the barrel flats.

But for what purpose Mike? It might fit the lug but I don’t think that is the purpose of the wrench...







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I’ve seen hammer spring clamps but they had a screw to tighten them. I have a pair of pliers with smooth jaws which remain parallel at any opening, and that’s what I use.

A look at the ssfirearms site is educational. Here is a pic of what is called a punch and main spring clamp and one of an 1842 Springfield combination tool that is a screwdriver and a nipple wrench. I have an original of one of these for my Springfield. I just ordered a replacement hammer screw and a nipple from them. Unlike the screw I got from Dixie GW years ago, theirs has the proper original threads. I've been looking for this screw for over 40yrs.