Please Recommend Flintlock Pistol Kit

[AKGuy]

I'm thinking about getting my first-ever blackpowder kit, and the child in me has always wanted a classic flintlock pistol.

I've just started looking up ideas, kits, etc, online...but thought I'd include an invitation for THR readers to share their recommendation(s) for a simple beginner/level 1 working/shooting flintlock pistol kit. It's basically envisioned as a "range toy" IE not for anything but shooting at the range. No hunting, etc. Certainly NOT for anti-carjacker defense!

Ideas and where to get the kits welcome...

 

[PRM]

Several good kits out there - I would recommend calling someone like Dixie Gun Works (731 885 0561) and talk with their tech staff about the different kits. They can guide you in the right direction as far as what you are wanting to spend and degree of difficulty.

A couple of suggestions, buy a quality kit. Get a cheap flintlock and you will become discouraged real quick. They are not as forgiving as a caplock. Good locks are reliable and won't shatter your flints like a cheap one. When your ready to shoot it, buy good English flints (another area you don't won't to scrimp by in).

Good luck.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Tradidions has a few pistol kits. I would check out the Trapper or the Kentucky kit.

 

[mykeal]

I strongly recommend you start with a percussion pistol rather than a flintlock. Flintlocks in general have their own special issues and can be frustrating to work with. Starting with a percussion pistol will teach you how to shoot black powder without the special issues of flint ignition, and then you can move on to learning the flintlock itself.

 

[arcticap]

All of the above are good suggestions.
There can be a lot of drawbacks to building any kit.

Here's some specific products to consider.

1. Midsouth has a Traditions .50 Trapper kit for $237. It has double triggers and the Trapper model is known to be an accurate shooter. But it's on back order:

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...ADING&dept2=MUZZLELOADING PISTOL&dept3=50 CAL

2. The Possible Shop has Traditions Kentucky Flint kit for $199 and the Trapper flint kit for $249:

http://www.possibleshop.com/pistol-kit.htm

3. Dixie Gun Works has many flint pistol kits including the Pedersoli Queen Anne on sale for $250. The reviewers rate it highly except that the trigger is stiff and the lock is hard on flints.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_162_195&products_id=9272

You can see all of Dixie's Pedersoli flint kits here:

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/default.php?cPath=22_162_195

4. To compare the Pedersoli kits to the finished Pedersoli flint pistols, visit Cherry's Pedersoli pistol page. The Queen Ann is $315 ($250 for the kit) and the .45 Kentucky flint is $300 ($265 for the kit).

http://www.cherrys.com/ped_pist.htm

I'm not advocating building a flint kit. But IMO, if you really want a flint pistol then I would recommend buying one already finished.

 

[Chawbaccer]

My first muzzle loader was a flint rifle kit, many years ago. I would say that I turned out to be an ok guy despite that. THis was in the days way befor the internet was there to help and instructions with the gun were pretty sparse. I don't even recall that I was given any load data at all and no ball diameter.
I just loaded it with what I thought was a good slug of powder and a ball I was told to try out*. Asking others questions was a help, but the most I would say I just fugured out on my own. I just think that a man that thinks he can build a kit can have fun with a flint too.

*An old timer told me to put the ball in my hand and pour powder on until the ball was covered. Now I remember that is how much powder I used.

 

[Macmac]

I read all the reviews for all of the Pedersoli Kentucky flint kits .

I get the impression the locks are good, or better than average.

One kit builder supposed the frizzens might need to be softer. I can't figure that one out what so ever as the frizzens need to be glass hard. Perhaps it was his first gun, and he believes rocks burn. The frizzen is what is burning. Steel burns when it is cut with harder flint.

Most kits guns I have seen leave the frizzens to soft to spark. So if I hadn't read these fire well, I would have guessed they don't fire regularly, most often, and probably don't fire at all unless the frizzen is case hardend.

So to find out otherwise is something of a delite.

Many winters ago, as a wee lad I tinkered with the black stuff alone. I had no one to ask about anything. I started with CVA cap locks and built a few. They worked ok, but were far from realistic.

I ventured on to a CVA flinter, and it was horrible. Not only did it not look like any Tower pistol what so ever, the lock was total junk. Maybe one in 10 trys the lock would fire the gun.

Had I let it go at that, I would have branded all flinters junk.

Well I didn't, but I don't have any lesser locks quality that Siler, and a lock kit which at my best guess is level 6/8, costs better than 100 bucks these days.

I can still laff at my antics after snapping off a 4-40 tap in a blind hole 4 times..

So a cap lock is a safe way to build a kit, and then maybe, just maybe if you call Dixie they may have a Pedersoli Kentucky kit that can take both types of locks.

Many real flinters were converted to cap lock.

And like many here I learned going backwards..

It seems the others building these kits had some problem installing the sites..

My best guess is the milled dove tail shots are straight. That is fine, as you just hand file and slightly taper the sites themselves and never the gun barrel.

If you screw up you just screw up a site base, and then you can have choices.

One choice might be buy new sites, the next might be to add metal by soldering, brazing, or even welding a bead on the base and try filing again.

I wish Dixie had more kits in a more complex finishing..

Last I don't believe blueing is accurate to history at the time of these guns. So far as I know it was in the white, or browned.. Blueing came to be just about this time commonly, and commonly is a key word.

What was in fashion means something, and while blueing existed before this time by maybe as must as 300 years it was not common in America.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/default...ath=22_162_195

On EDIT.. This post took me around for a look at DIXIE, where I found a all steel Scottish pistol, and seached them and came to this site I found interesting.. I have no idea about this site other than I found it interesting..

http://www.ttreasuresu.com/Pistols.html

One day I hope to own a pair of these steel pistols.

 

[AKGuy]

Thanks, folks. I've officially submitted my Christmas Wish request to family....I'll keep checking this thread, though, so keep the recom's coming if ya got 'em...

 

[DrLaw]

The child in you, eh????

Well, this one is aimed at the adult in you.

I'd second the opinion about the percussion pistol kit first.

I'd also second calling Dixie and getting somebody in the know on the phone.

The reasons for the first are that B-P is an acquired taste, and the foibles of flintlocks are something to get used to first by getting your feet wet with percussion. Then, by all means, dabble in flint fire.

The child in you can have all the fun it wants with both. However, in this situation, you have to grow backwards, so to speak.

Also, you might check the Possible Shop, www.possibleshop.com for kits at good prices, too. Dixie may have volume, but Possible also has good service, and the owner will e-mail you back about questions. (not an ad, just a recommendation from a satisfied customer ).

The Doc is out now.

 

[BlackNet]

I have to say here the best pistol so far I ever made was a pedersoli kentucky flint. It shoots better than the queen anne I have, uses less powder in the pan, causes less problems and way accurate.

Cap vs flint? I would go with flint but that's just me. If you get good flint and a good pistol it wont be much of a question or problem.

 

[arcticap]

That's great info. and a beautiful pistol.
But isn't that front sight installed backward?

 

[BlackNet]

I have not filed it down either. About time that I did.

Backwards? In modern standards yes it would be. All the diag's and stuff I have researched the front sight was in that direction.

Even pedersoli has it that way.

Here is the 3 types of front sights.

Note the stock one is not correct.

 

[arcticap]

My Pedersoli rifle's front sight is facing in the same direction as yours. Except mine could be just a tad higher and yours is just a bit too long.
Those folks at Pedersoli sure know how to build little imperfections into thier guns. But they can sure build satisfying ones anyway!