A Random Question

[Tanglefoot]

One thing to add, G. Flints don't "get brittle." They're that way from the get-go. A brandy new flint can chip or flake just as readily as an older one. Gun flints are smaller pieces of flint nodes that have been chipped/flaked to the form we use, but they're pretty much all the same age. Treat `em all with care and look out for those eyes. The eye docs can do things now that seemed like pipe dreams just 50 years ago, but far's I know they can't replace the whole thing with anything that works.

 

[Larry Pletcher]

I have photos of the flint fragments you mention. In an article I wrote for the January 1990 MuzzleBlasts there are a couple photos showing flint fragments. The fragments are in the air, above the flint strike, while the flint has just struck the frizzen. If you don't have your MuzzleBlasts issues back that far, the link below has the article and the photos. Regards, Pletch

https://www.blackpowdermag.com/flintlock-timing-muzzleblast-january-1990/

 

[stephenprops1]

I was wondering if when firing a Flintlock rifle if the actual flint can break a piece off and hit a person in the eye's ? Not sure if the chip has enough force to cause damage.

I was saw a piece of flint break off and strike the range officer in the face. His cheek was slightly cut and a few drops of blood appeared. So, YES!

 

[smoothshooter]

Don't usually wear hearing protection. I'm 66 and most things I hear are just noise I don't really wanna hear anyway.

Don't usually wear hearing protection. I'm 66 and most things I hear are just noise I don't really wanna hear anyway.

That is a strange outlook.
Hearing loss is a contributing factor for dementia, and causes all kinds of communication problems with family members, doctors, etc.
Acute tinitis is no laughing matter.

 

[stephenprops1]

One thing to add, G. Flints don't "get brittle." They're that way from the get-go. A brandy new flint can chip or flake just as readily as an older one. Gun flints are smaller pieces of flint nodes that have been chipped/flaked to the form we use, but they're pretty much all the same age. Treat `em all with care and look out for those eyes. The eye docs can do things now that seemed like pipe dreams just 50 years ago, but far's I know they can't replace the whole thing with anything that works.

I understand everything you wrote except G. Flints ---- What the heck is that?

 

[stephenprops1]

That is a strange outlook.
Hearing loss is a contributing factor for dementia, and causes all kinds of communication problems with family members, doctors, etc.
Acute tinitis is no laughing matter.

I agree. I am 69 and I still have great hearing. I always wear ear and eye protection while shooting.

 

[morehops52]

Please remember to buckle up your safety strap when seated at the range table too!

 

[smoothshooter]

I agree. I am 69 and I still have great hearing. I always wear ear and eye protection while shooting.

I have moderate hearing loss and mild to moderate tinitis.
Too many years of gunfire and Huey and Blackhawk turbine engine noise, even with the best hearing protection I could come up with.
If I had been as careless as some people are, I wouldn’t be able to hear myself pass gas now.

 

[TDM]

I have moderate hearing loss and mild to moderate tinitis.
Too many years of gunfire and Huey and Blackhawk turbine engine noise, even with the best hearing protection I could come up with.
If I had been as careless as some people are, I wouldn’t be able to hear myself pass gas now.

I wear ear plugs because I’ve lived and worked in the same environment. Don’t always wear my safety glasses, if I ever get the little Lyman peep patch positioned properly I’ll wear them more. As for the last, I figure if I can’t hear it, I’ll still know.

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

That is a strange outlook.
Hearing loss is a contributing factor for dementia, and causes all kinds of communication problems with family members, doctors, etc.
Acute tinitis is no laughing matter.

Well, I'm an old curmudgeon with stage 4 cancer. A little thing like being hard of hearing is not especially troubling to me... and as it is my business and not yours, I'll probably continue with my "strange outlook" as I have been for the last ten years or so. In another ten years it won't matter.

 

[smoothshooter]

Well, I'm an old curmudgeon with stage 4 cancer. A little thing like being hard of hearing is not especially troubling to me... and as it is my business and not yours, I'll probably continue with my "strange outlook" as I have been for the last ten years or so. In another ten years it won't matter.

I can understand your perspective, then.

 

[smoothshooter]

You willing to risk your eyesight on that? I'm not. Wear eye protection!

I wear prescription glasses every day.

 

[Jedidiah]

I understand everything you wrote except G. Flints ---- What the heck is that?

Gun Flints??

 

[Buckskinquin]

I’ve been hit by debris from caps before, but don’t recall being hit with a chip off a flint…

Could it happen, yes.

Stand on the right side of a right handed flint lock shooter. Would recommend eye protection covering side face also, or turn your back to it. Most ranges have shields placed aside flint positions.

 

[stephenprops1]

Gun Flints??

You must understand everyone doesn't understand your personal abbreviations.

 

[Jedidiah]

You must understand everyone doesn't understand your personal abbreviations.

I agree, I am learning every day!

 

[smoothshooter]

Stand on the right side of a right handed flint lock shooter. Would recommend eye protection covering side face also, or turn your back to it. Most ranges have shields placed aside flint positions.

I caught a good shot of vent blast in the left cheek years ago. Hurt like the dickens for an hour. I was sure there would be some burnt powder granules to dig out of my shin, but there wasn’t, to my surprise.
Never made that mistake again.

 

[Mad L]

Yes, flint can chip, it can fly into your eye, and no matter how 'hard' it may hit, it is like a tiny shard of Glass, it Will do damage.
I had just mounted a new French Flint last month, the first shot I was struck in my right eye - But I was wearing glasses - it hit hard enough that I heard it as well as felt it. I don't recall this ever happening before. When I checked the flint there was a decent sized chip off the Bottom of the flint right in the center.

As for standing on the right of a flintlock: for expodition shooting we were always told to have a No one on your right, we were to always stagger ourselves...well, will doing a show on a pier one guy got excited (we were shooting blank loads at a ship sailing by) he did not wait for my line to step back before moving up with his line and he reached over my left shoulder with his pistol and Fired - the Flash Burn to my face (luckily nothing to my eye) Hurt Like Heck! And it's like a Real Bad Sun Burn, the sting and pain lingers long - ya, I went off on him, he thought I was a jerk, I dont care, it HURT LIKE HECK, IT BURNED, IT STUNG and that was Too Close to my Eye!

 

[hanshi]

I have tinnitus and it bothers me some. The damage came from a variety is sources from lawn mowers to handgun shooting and in the military. I wear glasses when I shoot/hunt and wear both ear plugs AND earmuffs. When hunting I would usually put in ear plugs that allowed normal conversation and woods noises. But any noise above a certain level would cause a valve to close rendering the noise muffled.

In searching back to look I can find no incident that I can swear to of being hit by flint chips. I'm sure it must have happened at least once but can't recall. I did have several times when I got "spit on" by a percussion lock/cap.

 

[LRB]

A piece of flint is FAR more likely to blown out to the side by being caught in the vent blast from the barrel than it is to travel rearward into the shooter’s face.

True, but I had a chip or spark hit my cheek, just under the rim of my glasses, then bounce into my eye. Fortunately there was no damage, just a very slight short lived discomfort, and a few tears washed it away. I also had a chip from a friends rifle hit my cheek and draw blood, from 10 or so feet away. As mentioned, vent blast can be dangerous.