Editing Percussion cap (section)

==Description==
[[File:Caplock.gif|thumb|All caplock mechanisms rely upon a [[hammer (firearms)|hammer]] impact.]]
The percussion cap is a small cylinder of [[copper]] or [[brass]] with one closed end. Inside the closed end is a small amount of a [[Explosive#Primary|shock-sensitive explosive]] material such as [[mercury(II) fulminate|mercury fulminate]] (discovered in 1800; it was the only practical detonator used from about the mid-19th century to the early 20th century<ref name=wisniak>{{cite journal |last=Wisniak |first=Jaime |title=Edward Charles Howard. Explosives, meteorites, and sugar |journal=Educación Química |publisher=Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico |volume=23 |issue=2 |year=2012 |language=en |issn=0187-893X |doi=10.1016/s0187-893x(17)30114-3 |pages=230–239 | doi-access=free }}</ref>).

The caplock mechanism consists of a [[hammer (firearms)|hammer]] and a ''nipple'' (sometimes referred to as a ''cone''). The nipple contains a hollow [[pipe (fluid conveyance)|conduit]] which goes into the rearmost part of the gun barrel, and the percussion cap is placed over the nipple hole. Pulling the trigger releases the hammer, which strikes the percussion cap against the nipple (which serves as an [[anvil]]), crushes it and detonates the mercury fulminate inside, which releases sparks that travel through the hollow nipple into the barrel and ignite the main powder charge.

Percussion caps have been made in small sizes for pistols and larger sizes for rifles and muskets.<ref name="Fadala2006"/>