Flint knapping tool????

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

I was at my ML supply shop and one of the older gentleman there quickly knapped a flint with the brass bolster on his Case folding knife. It left a perfectly knapped flint and nothing but a tiny bit of flint dust on this finger that he blew off, no chunks, no shards... :shocked2:

 

[M. De Land]

Now your talking about precision edge making instead of knocking chucks of chert out with percussor tools which are better suited for spauling not edge knapping.
One has far less control of the edge produced with a percussor than they do if they would take the time to make and learn how to use an antler or copper pointed pressure flaking tool.
The main reason I think small percussors are used more often is because they are easy to use with the flint still in the cock.
With the copper tool or antler one gets better results when removing the flint from the cock and pressure flaking against a piece of leather for edge support.
The flints will last longer and give a more consistent spark if pressure flaked.

 

[George]

That's my two cents, too. I never carry a knapping tool, just use the back of my butcher knife.

I've posted this link before, but maybe some would like to see how the professionals really did it. From Brando, England, 1940.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XPEoiY3NnI

Spence

 

[wattlebuster]

Made my own pressure knapp tool after watching one of the Brian Beckum dvds. Its just a antler tip with a piece of round copper inserted into the end that I cut off the antler. Both the copper end and the antler tip works great. A good thick piece of leather to hold the flint in the palm of your hand. This method is in flintlocks an whitetails 2 an works the best for me. Gets the flints like razors. Lots of sparks an flints last longer too :thumbsup:

 

[Spikebuck]

3 Rivers Archery carries supplies and tools.
http://www.3riversarchery.com/flint-knapping-kit-with-aluminum-billet.html

 

[Patocazador]

Try Larry Callahan he has a small tool that incorporates a flat piece of metal, it has a notch for pressure flaking along with two turn screws and a vent pick built together. Nifty little gadget and works well. Larry says the original for his product was found in a original bag. I would guess it probably dates to the mid 1800s.Just going on what I was told by the maker, I have two of them for different bags and would not be caught with out them.AN APPALICHIAN HUNTER

How about posting a photo of one?

Thanks

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

Try Larry Callahan he has a small tool that incorporates a flat piece of metal, it has a notch for pressure flaking along with two turn screws and a vent pick built together. Nifty little gadget and works well. Larry says the original for his product was found in a original bag. I would guess it probably dates to the mid 1800s.Just going on what I was told by the maker, I have two of them for different bags and would not be caught with out them.AN APPALICHIAN HUNTER

How about posting a photo of one?

Thanks

Thank you Bingaman for bringing this skilled craftsman to my attention.

(pictures 1,8,and 11)

http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/search/label/Larry Callahan




You can purchase his work here: http://bagmolds.com

 

[Crewdawg445]

I made a tiny brass and iron knapping hammer off an 18th century example. Neat little trinket, however I live by the less is more moto, I mainly use my turn screw (fancy forged screwdriver) works very well for polishing up the face of my flints.

 

[Skychief]

Should we consider a tool such as this traditional?

I doubt it. I have only ever found references to one way of sharpening flints, and that's what the old boys called hammering. I've never really figured it out, but in some way the flint is forced against the heel of the frizzen to flake the edge. No tool is used.

An item is very frequently offered for sale or mentioned in other ways in the 18th century, called a 'gun hammer'. It's not the cock, but some sort of accessory tool. Maybe it's one of those combination tools with a knapping hammer?

The Pennsylvania Gazette
September 18, 1755
"Just imported in the ship Myrtilla, Richard Budden
...fuzees, fowling pieces, gun hammers and screws, "

The Pennsylvania Gazette
October 13, 1763
"Just imported from London, in the Carolina, James Friend, Master, and to be sold by THOMAS SAVADGE.... steel pinchers and plyers, nutcracks and gun worms, chargers and hammers, and sundry other sorts of steel toys,"

However you do it, unloaded guns only, if you are going to knap the flint while in the jaws.

The Pennsylvania Gazette
April 5, 1750
Annapolis, in Maryland February 7.
"Some days ago, as a man in Talbot county was hammering the flint of a loaded gun, she went off, and shot an elderly man, who was near him, in one of his thighs, with seven swan shot, in a terrible manner; tho' it was thought he would recover."

Spence

Spence, I have heard that the old boys referred to a frizzen as a "hammer".

I remember hearing it on a youtube video on the"capandball" channel.

I will see if I can locate it and shoot you a PT.

 

[George]

Yes, that's true. In this case, though, the context in which the term is used makes it seem obvious that it's not the frizzen/hammer on the gun which they are talking about.

Spence

 

[Skychief]

I see. I did find the video in any case. "Knapping a sharp edge on a flint to make fire" posted by Keith H. Burgess.

He sounds as though he may be Australian. Perhaps they refer to the frizzen as the hammer more than we do here. :idunno:

Darn it, I thought I had my chance to enlighten Darth Vader. :haha:

Back to the drawing board :slap: .

Best regards, Skychief :hatsoff:

 

[Gene L]

Saw another video by Mr. Burgess. He does refer to the frizzen as the "hammer."

He sounds like a New Zealander, but may be Australian.

 

[George]

Yeah, Keith Burgess is Woodsrunner, and he does some serious reenacting. I expect he's just using that term because it was common in the old days, and he works hard at being HC.

Thanks for the thought, Luke. :haha:

Spence, DV

 

[Rifleman1776]

What I do to get by without any flint knapping tools is to lower the cock and then lower the frizzen on the top edge of the flint. With my thumb on the back of the frizzen applying pressure on the flint, I bring the hammer to full cock. Often I flake off some flint and restore a sharp edge that is truly flush with the frizzen.

That is a popular technique among some shooters. But, I have never had success with it. Flints are often not evenly hard across the edge. An extra hard spot will not respond to that kind of pressure.

 

[Patocazador]

Try Larry Callahan he has a small tool that incorporates a flat piece of metal, it has a notch for pressure flaking along with two turn screws and a vent pick built together. Nifty little gadget and works well. Larry says the original for his product was found in a original bag. I would guess it probably dates to the mid 1800s.Just going on what I was told by the maker, I have two of them for different bags and would not be caught with out them.AN APPALICHIAN HUNTER

How about posting a photo of one?

Thanks

Thank you Bingaman for bringing this skilled craftsman to my attention.

(pictures 1,8,and 11)

http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/search/label/Larry Callahan




You can purchase his work here: http://bagmolds.com

Thanks for posting this. Now, if I can figure out how to use it .....

 

[Skychief]

Yeah, Keith Burgess is Woodsrunner, and he does some serious reenacting. I expect he's just using that term because it was common in the old days, and he works hard at being HC.

Thanks for the thought, Luke. :haha:

Spence, DV

:haha: :thumbsup:

 

[smoothshooter]

I sharpen my fints while mounted in the hammer jaws all the time, with the gun loaded, and umprimed, no problems.

I DO keep my left index finger pressed up against the bottom of the edge of the flint while tapping the top of the dull edge with side of a screwdriver.

Never had a spark from doing it this way.

 

[Claude Mathis]

My opinion?

If you are making gun flints, you need several tools.

If all you are doing is touching up the edge of an existing flint (in the gun), you can use almost anything, that will from very little from the edge.

It's all about knowing how to lightly chip the flint. IMO

 

[Skychief]

Spence and all, wanted to let you know that I spent a couple of minutes working on a nail with a file this afternoon. See the nail knapping tool above that Spence posted if you missed it.

Once fashioned, I grabbed my flintlock with a partially dull flint and gave it a whirl.

IT WORKS GREAT!!! :applause:

In no time at all I had the sharpest flint with the straightest edge that I have ever knapped by other methods while the flint was in the jaws of the cock.

I love picking things up from guys that are in the know. Thanks Spence :thumbsup: .

It went right into my possibles bag and I won't be without one again.

Best regards, Skychief.

 

[Percy]

Thanks for the nail idea. I made one but instead of a nail I used a piece of 3/16" diameter copper grounding wire I got from Lowes. Works great, I just tap it with my short starter.