Looking for some advice for a book
My MC is supposed to be a gunsmith and there are some material limitations in his current situation.
He has the knowledge to make black powder (and a way to cheese getting a saltpeter field up and running)
Magic and enchanting knowledge is available to him (solving the ignition mechanism, it will basically be a heated firing pin on the end of a hammer and the operator must wear an insulated glove)
but Iron and steel working is unavailable to him due to sourcing issues, he's affiliated with a craftsman organization that can get him bronze, brass, and woodworking done for his designs.
for raw materials he can get pure zinc, copper, tin, lead. as well as wood with regularity
designs are going to apply modern principles (21st century) but the ease of production is the most important thing do to some severe tool and production constraints most everything is going to be either cast or use manual tooling.
The cartridges would be a rimmed, stamped brass cartridge sealed by 2 wax and paper disks at each end. with a hole at the rear for the red hot firing pin to bore its way through the wax seal at the back (similar to a primer pocket)
Cap and ball principles sort of apply here as the ignition system is separate from the explosive charge and deals with a closed metal cartridge.
Please show me cool things and give me Ideas.