Flint preference

[tenngun]

I have never found any appreciable difference between the two of them.

That’s been my experience
I’ve got fifty shots or more off a flint, had them shatter on first go
Fine English, amber,chert from my get a bigger hammer school of flint napping, burned red chert, all seem to work so close to the same I can’t tell the difference

 

[Jimbob]

Anyone notice any difference in performance between the gray English and the French amber flints?

I’ve noticed no difference.

 

[Cruzatte]

Only difference I've noticed is that the French flints are a little more expensive. Other than that, a flint is a flint. They all make sparks on steel.

 

[Rudyard]

Only difference I've noticed is that the French flints are a little more expensive. Other than that, a flint is a flint. They all make sparks on steel.

Gray Flints ? considered secondry to black ones ? .FrenchAmber well enough . Its probably more the lock than the flint. I recall ordering the grey ones from Herbert Edwards in Brandon at 2 shillings & 6 pence a dozen. At that time most of his orders where for Africa .His house was callled 'Lagos Palm" a ship serving the West African region and I later saw them offered in a Lagos market in 1965 .Later Simon de Lotbinery Squire of Brandon sent me a perfect flint such as where made for the Best quality guns of flintlock days perfect like it was cast. I sent him any flint like' flints' such as sawn agate & ceramic ones ,Indian & Re knaps ect . But Govt orders where not so precise if deemed good Just bigger than Tom Fuller made for Muskets as the wreck of the " East Indiaman '.'Earl of Abergaveny" revealed barnacles an all ! . as being wet they kept perfectly. A Mr Cummings sold them he was involved with a diving Club , She strook not far off shore Nr Brighton in the English channel from memory , I know I humped a pack full over to the US . I bought thousands from Tom Fuller .Sold them wholesale couldn't be bothered with blanket sales . Incidentally there was No customs duty leviable by US Customs on Flints a rule surviving the days of the flintlock guns . Surface expose flint was deemed poor if good enough for building walls The deep mines where dug to get the black flints ide just fancied the grey ones where OK . Tom Fuller got his free as they where waste from some earth moving or mineing company . If you have friend near the Yorkshire coast they fall out of the cliffs due to erosion no need to mine it & its free Just needs a bit of skill to knap it just don't knap it on the beach nasty stuff with barefoot kids about.
Rudyard flinted out

 

[wayne1967]

I’ve had similar issues with the Amber flints.
A couple I remember broke on the first throw of the cock , blew the corner right off.

No it didn’t hit the barrel or the pan…

Honestly I only bought 2 dozen of the Amber flints and still have 1/2 dozen or so left..
So my opinion may is based only on those few flints.

I did buy some black French flints from Heritage Products and was well satisfied with those.
But normally it’s black English when they’re available.

Those white flints Rich Pierce sold were excellent sparkers as well..

I guess I've never seen the black ones or wasn't paying close enough attention.

 

[deerstalkert]

personally I prefer Georgetown chert from Texas. have 84 shots on one without one klatch.
mostly I think its the lock but am still impressed.

 

[wiscoaster]

Anyone notice any difference in performance between the gray English and the French amber flints?

I've used both and haven't noticed any functional or performance difference. I prefer the French flints simply because they're prettier.

Seeing as how the "in stock" situation is hit-or-miss on both I'd say just buy whichever you can get in the proper size.

 

[smo]

I guess I've never seen the black ones or wasn't paying close enough attention.

Heritage Products is the only place I’ve found black French flints ..

They were out of stock a couple days ago however.

 

[mrfritz44]

Does the use of leather or lead affect the longevity of a flint?

I read somewhere once that lead contributes to the weight of the cock, or hammer if you prefer, and created additional momentum that increased sparks.

Just another potential variable to add to the conversation....

 

[wiscoaster]

Does the use of leather or lead affect the longevity of a flint? ....

The couple guns I got that came with lead I replaced with leather. Don't have an answer to your question, though, sorry.

 

[Rudyard]

Does the use of leather or lead affect the longevity of a flint?

I read somewhere once that lead contributes to the weight of the cock, or hammer if you prefer, and created additional momentum that increased sparks.

Just another potential variable to add to the conversation....

Good question ,I just used leather less stress on the cock .
Rudyard

 

[smo]

Some dealers/ manufacturers recommend not using lead.

 

[Rob M.]

For decades I always used both , large English , amber French ...the French have always been a bit better sparkers but the English a bit better for longevity ... Every time I go to a shop or shoot Ive just grabbed a dozen or so so ive always got flints in the shop . Funny ...the last batch the French flint out lasted the English , weird ...and a first . I SURE love those flints if they are flat on top ! NICE ! Lead or leather on em is fine but prefer the lead , ball hammered flat and cut ....I sure love all ive been seein lately on here and on F.B. about folks knapping their own flints . I sure want to do this and do it well , get good at making flints . Ive messed with it for decades but not from scratch , from s big ole piece of chert and making a dozen " flints " for ye ole N.W. Fukes . That'd be great !! Making the gun from a tree I cut down and parts ive forged out, now making my own powder and then making my flints too ...be great . Ive made them , poorly ,from sharp chert pieces , broken arrow heads etc. but never from scratch per se ....Hope to figure all that out ,how to identity chert in the creek when still in larger " rock " form , bust em out and make em into useable square sizes , etc . Neat stuff !

 

[Griz 54]

Does the use of leather or lead affect the longevity of a flint?

I read somewhere once that lead contributes to the weight of the cock, or hammer if you prefer, and created additional momentum that increased sparks.

Just another potential variable to add to the conversation....

I would like to add that the extra weight of the lead has a tendency to break frizzens

 

[Greg Selner]

I’ve used both English and French in my Chambers large siler lock and get the same results.
I’m happy with both.

 

[deerstalkert]

I would like to add that the extra weight of the lead has a tendency to break frizzens

and sears.

 

[deerstalkert]

For decades I always used both , large English , amber French ...the French have always been a bit better sparkers but the English a bit better for longevity ... Every time I go to a shop or shoot Ive just grabbed a dozen or so so ive always got flints in the shop . Funny ...the last batch the French flint out lasted the English , weird ...and a first . I SURE love those flints if they are flat on top ! NICE ! Lead or leather on em is fine but prefer the lead , ball hammered flat and cut ....I sure love all ive been seein lately on here and on F.B. about folks knapping their own flints . I sure want to do this and do it well , get good at making flints . Ive messed with it for decades but not from scratch , from s big ole piece of chert and making a dozen " flints " for ye ole N.W. Fukes . That'd be great !! Making the gun from a tree I cut down and parts ive forged out, now making my own powder and then making my flints too ...be great . Ive made them , poorly ,from sharp chert pieces , broken arrow heads etc. but never from scratch per se ....Hope to figure all that out ,how to identity chert in the creek when still in larger " rock " form , bust em out and make em into useable square sizes , etc . Neat stuff !

Rob, get a ballpeen hammer and walk the creek smacking the stones. them that spark will work, them that don't won't!
I strike spalls off my chert nodes with a ballpeen. I have to pay attention and make sure nothing volatile is close by. the steel hammer really produces a light show.

 

[Rob M.]

Huh ?! Well ain't that a good idea ... I'll test it with a hammer and my tomahawk , make sure the tomahawk sparks on chert then I'll use it ...Thank ya Sir

Rob, get a ballpeen hammer and walk the creek smacking the stones. them that spark will work, them that don't won't!
I strike spalls off my chert nodes with a ballpeen. I have to pay attention and make sure nothing volatile is close by. the steel hammer really produces a light show.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

I bought a bunch of 3/4 flints in error that I am using up but think my Frontier is supposed to use a 7/8.

 

[jackstanton]

I store my flints in a jar of water in the fridge, I will take out a dozen and dry them off on my way to the range or hunt. My father taught me to do that almost 60 years ago, his father taught him the same as well. Does it help to preserve the flints? I don't know, but my elders thought so.