Flintlock Tech

[Shultzhaus]

I have a Traditions PA pellet Flint lock. It had a soft frizzen on from the factory, and was replaced with a "new type" harder one. I can fire the rifle 4 or 5 times, and then it fails to strike. I can clean the frizzen with sand paper, and wipe the flint with an alcohol prep pad, and we are ok for 3 or 4 more shots. the new harder frizzen gets horizontal "ruts" across the face just where the flint strikes it. Maybe this one is not so hard either. I have the old frizzen, and I think I might try heating it up and quench it, in an attempt to reharden it. Maybe I am not setting up the flint correctly or something. I read somewhere about napping a flint? How about a flint seminar from some you more experienced BP's. I must be loading charge, and pan properly, because I have had comments at the range about how quick the gun fires. Jack

 

[nicholst55]

The marks you describe on your frizzen are normal. After protracted use, a frizzen needs to be ground smooth in that area and re-hardened. Hardening a frizzen is something that's easily done with a bit of experience. The key is to use enough heat, and to use Kasenit to harden it with.

The difficulties you describe after a few shots indicate that your flint needs to be 'knapped,' or sharpened. I would suggest that you do some reading on the subject here, at Bob Spence's website: http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/

A well tuned flintlock, properly tended to, is much more reliable than most people realize. A flintlock is about all that I'll hunt with any more, personally.

 

[sundance44s]

Two things that make good improvements to a flintlock ..I take a ball and flatten it with a hammer then cut out a strip to wrap the flint in instead of useing leather ..The leather can act as a shock absorber makeing it necessary to knapp the flint more often ..The lead wrap gives a more solid strike ...I rarely have to knapp ..sometimes not at all .
Secondly the type flint used ..I only use black English flints ..some of the other type flints work just as well for some folks but ..you can`t go wrong with the Black English flints ..They work well on every flint lock rifle I`ve ever shot ...every flink lock shooter has their thing ...and not all flint locks are the same ..sometimes it takes finding the right combination of things to make your flintlock proficient ...

 

[Shultzhaus]

OK - Thanks guys. Read Bob Spences site, as suggested, and got a wealth of info. Also googled "Kasenite" and got another hour of reading. What a goof - I was sanding the frizzen, and the edge of the flint -probably destroying the sharp edge required. I am using the good English flints bought at Dixon's in PA. My son's Hawken does not like the machine made flints, so I did not try those. I was told about the lead wrap trick from the dealer that sold the rifle. Maybe try that also. We have some plumbers in our club - would plumber's lead work also? Thanks

 

[sundance44s]

plumbers lead would work too ..it`s as soft as round ball lead ...just be sure to flatten it out pretty good , your wrap doesn`t need be thick at all you should be able to cut it to shape with a pair of sissors ...
Those cut flints you mentioned ...they aren`t worth beans to a serious flinter , stay clear of those for sure .
You can buy good black English flints by the dozen at Dixiegunworks ..and Trackof the wolf .. just be sure and get the right size for your lock .