I have gone off "half-cocked" regarding the link to the Joseph Egg pistols. The fact that the lock plates are said to show a de-facto "Forsyth license" indicates one of the less-usual conversions; from Forsyth's "scent-bottle" to the later cap-lock, rather than my speculation on a flint-conversion (these were quite common, and can be a real headache when trying to properly date antiques). Since the license is still on the plates, the conversion would have involved only replacing the hammer, and removing the scent-bottle assembly and replacing it with a nipple and bolster.

Where there is no accompanying gunsmith's bill for conversions, it is generally impossible to date the conversion itself. It caught me off guard to see a conversion from Forsyth's original lock (which he could license as it was covered by his patent), and the "license" info just went right over my head.

I need to pay closer attention when I read these things!

John