Did I do something Stupid??

[david w]

One thing I noticed is that the flint needs to be bevel down. It appears the flint is way too high.

 

[Horse]

Did I do something Stupid??​

I ask myself that almost every day...

So do I. Then I answer myself; yeah ya dumb ass!

 

[Phil Coffins]

I haven’t done anything stupid today, but it’s early!

 

[BoomStick]

Just a novice question here, but is the cock usually hardened, or just left as cast? On the rare times I've seen them fail, they usually break and not bend -so I've thought the frizzen and cock are both hardened.

 

[duca]

Yes as stated before I would turn that flint around and give it a try. Looks to be hitting awfully high

 

[duca]

Someone needs to do a video on tuning or fixing a lock. It seems to me no one wants to talk about it as though it’s some trade secret.

?? There are plenty of videos and articles on how to do this. Jim even has a video on it.

 

[andy52]

Did I do something Stupid??​

I ask myself that almost every day...

I don't ask myself that question any longer, I already know the truth and it ain't pretty.....

 

[vintovka]

Just a novice question here, but is the cock usually hardened, or just left as cast? On the rare times I've seen them fail, they usually break and not bend -so I've thought the frizzen and cock are both hardened.

On better locks all the parts get at least surface or case hardening. Some hammers (like CVA) are often broken when folks attempt to bend them to correct nipple contact. Long ago we rehardened customers frizzens using just Casenite powder but not sure how they are now.

 

[Crew Chief]

Yes as stated before I would turn that flint around and give it a try. Looks to be hitting awfully high

Tried it both ways, no joy.

 

[Crew Chief]

So do I. Then I answer myself; yeah ya dumb ass!

I am building a 30 Ford Coupe hot rod and have done some dumb things with it already. Luckily I can weld my mistakes.

 

[Crew Chief]

In the final assembly of the Kibler SMR. Put the lock in and put a flint in the lock and was suprised that I got no spark. I checked and double checked the position of the flint and still no spark. The only thing different is that I fire blued all the exposed parts. I put no direct fire on the face of the frizzen. Could that be the problem?

I am a novice when it comes the flintlocks. Been shooting percussion for a while. Any help is appreciate.

I talked to Lorie at Kibler Longrifles this morning because Jim was super busy. She said Jim will fix it so I shipped the lock off a while ago. Will let you all know what the fix was.
Thanks to all with that offered advice.

 

[vintovka]

Maybe this old thread might help:

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/kasenit-for-hardening-frizzen.23638/

 

[SciAggie]

I do dumb things all the time. The reason I know that is because my wife keeps me informed.

 

[LRB]

Just a novice question here, but is the cock usually hardened, or just left as cast? On the rare times I've seen them fail, they usually break and not bend -so I've thought the frizzen and cock are both hardened.

The cock is usually left as is. If it needs to be bent, it should be bent while red hot although I have made minor tweaks with some being cold, it is risky. The cast cock can be thermal cycled which can make it a bit less prone to failure. However, if a casting has an internal void, there is no cure. It will either perform as it should or fail sooner or later. In quite a few years of experience repairing, modifying, locks, actions, and guns, I have replaced just two cocks due to breakage in the field. One percussion, one flint. Frizzens do sometimes break. They take a lot of punishment, and some are made with a stronger design than others. Frizzens require some tempering after a proper hardening to lessen the chance, but it happens. Steel casting has come a long way in the last few years and in many cases be only very slightly behind forged strength. Even for springs.

 

[Horse]

I am building a 30 Ford Coupe hot rod and have done some dumb things with it already. Luckily I can weld my mistakes.

I can relate. I restored/rebuilt a 65 Mustang. I learned to call my screwups "resto-mods".
I spent 3 years working on it and when it was pretty much done (their never really done) I was driving it to a get together and got t-boned by a guy and driven into a fireplug =Totaled.

 

[hanshi]

Yep, you screwed up. Since you returned the lock for repair all recommendations are now moot. However, when you get it back make sure to flip the flint over.

 

[SciAggie]

I can relate. I restored/rebuilt a 65 Mustang. I learned to call my screwups "resto-mods".
I spent 3 years working on it and when it was pretty much done (their never really done) I was driving it to a get together and got t-boned by a guy and driven into a fireplug =Totaled.
View attachment 176041

That's the saddest thing I've heard today.

 

[Horse]

That's the saddest thing I've heard today.

Yeah, that happened three years ago and I'm still crying about it.

 

[Nemo Vir]

?? There are plenty of videos and articles on how to do this. Jim even has a video on it.

There are videos on disassemble and reassembling locks, but not actually fixing or tuning.

 

[deerstalkert]

hopefully Jim will reharden the plate also. if it was softened the axle would wallow out the bearing surfaces pretty quick