# Looking for the definition of a Kentucky rifle component called "frisson"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-the-definition-of-a-kentucky-rifle-component-called-frisson/962896>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 15, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-the-definition-of-a-kentucky-rifle-component-called-frisson/962896 "2022-04-15T22:02:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-the-definition-of-a-kentucky-rifle-component-called-frisson/962896/1 "2022-04-15T22:02:05Z")

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Hi  
I’m looking for the definition of an early rifle (Kentucky rifle)component called “frisson”. I’ve been looking for some time for a defiition for this component but haven’t found any. It resembles 'frizzen" but I’m not quite sure. I’ve come across it in Michael Punke’s novel The Revenant and forums on early frontier rifles.

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**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-the-definition-of-a-kentucky-rifle-component-called-frisson/962896/2 "2022-04-15T22:06:22Z")

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> **[Flint napping D'OH!](https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=13918.0)**
>
> Flint napping D'OH!

I use co2 or use a pig tail jag to take my ball and charge out I still like to drop the hammer to the frisson and blow out any powder left in the barrel.

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-the-definition-of-a-kentucky-rifle-component-called-frisson/962896/3 "2022-04-15T22:06:55Z")

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> **[Frizzen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frizzen)**
>
> Pages for logged out editors learn more
> 
> The frizzen, historically called the "hammer" or the steel, is an "L"-shaped piece of steel hinged at the front used in flintlock firearms. The frizzen is held in one of two positions, opened or closed, by a leaf spring. When closed, it is positioned over the flash pan so as to enclose a small priming charge of black powder next to the flash hole that is drilled through the barrel into which the main charge has been loaded. When the trigger is pu...

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**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-the-definition-of-a-kentucky-rifle-component-called-frisson/962896/4 "2022-04-15T22:12:17Z")

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That’s what I thought. Thanks running\_coach. Wikipedia doesn’t list ‘frisson’ as a variation of the word and I haven’t seen it used in any French texts.