Percussion caps have been made in small sizes for pistols and larger sizes for rifles and muskets. Pulling the trigger releases the hammer, which strikes the percussion cap and detonates the mercury fulminate, which releases flames which travel through the hollow nipple to ignite the main powder charge. The percussion cap is placed over the hollow metal nipple. The nipple contains a tube which goes into the rearmost part of the gun barrel. The caplock mechanism consists of a hammer and a nipple, sometimes referred to as a cone. Inside the closed end is a small amount of a shock-sensitive explosive material such as mercuric fulminate (discovered in 1800 it was the only practical detonator used from about 1850 to the early 20th century ).
The percussion cap is a small cylinder of copper or brass with one closed end.
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