SM>  I've never been aware weapons can fire by themselfs!
 RH> A muzzle-loader using percussion caps might manage it, but you'd have
 RH> to be dumb enough to keep one around loaded first.... Flintlocks could,
SM>  Curious...I know if a revolver (such as mine) is cocked, it
SM> will fire  if dropped at such an angle allowing it to.
Depends on the weapon.  The my dad has one of the old
S&W Military & Police (model 10?) and it has the firing
pin right on the hammer.  I have a H&R 22 that has a
transfer bar that has to be lifted by the trigger
before the hammer will hit the firing pin.
I think if you dropped the H&R from high enough and it
hit muzzle down the intra might cause it to fire but
the round would hit what the muzzle was in contact
with.
                      Remember:  Freedom isn't Free!
--- timEd-B11
---------------