Flint Life

[hanshi]

Flint life can vary so widely that it's difficult to give an answer. What I can say is that I've had flints that that lasted from a low of 5 shots to over 100. Say if a flint gives you 30 shots and starts to balk; anything from scraping the edge with a knife blade to knapping the edge can get you up to , oh, let's say 50 shots. With a good flint you can continue to knap, flip it over or even turn it around and use the back edge. I've had flints that "self knapped" and flints that fired until there wasn't enough left for the jaws to hold it. As they wear, you can mount them farther out and just put a twig or something similar behind it. I like to knapp with a tiny hammer made from a screwdriver blade and a piece of copper and I do it while it's still in the jaws. Just make sure you hold the hammer/cock back with your finger so as not to damage the lock mechanism. Mounting with leather works for me as does wiping the flint edge to clear away fouling. So I'll just close with this; 50 to 75 shots from a flint is quite reasonable.

 

[Leadball loader]

I have found that lead does not hold the flint as well as leather. I find the leather holds up longer and is more reliable than soft lead.
It requires attention to the lock whichever material you use. I try to check the flint every five shots or so.
It is nice to get sparks when I want them.