FLINT WONT SPARK !!!!!

[BOGG]

Howdy folks, My mane is bogg and I'm new to the flintlock part of black powder. I have been using cap and ball for 20 years now and have have had some great fun and some wild huting. I move back here PA and you can only hunt black powder with a fkintlock so I got one. Deer black powder comes in on the 26th and I CAN NOT GET MY FLINT TO SPARK AND SET OFF MY POWDER. Can y'al help me out here so I can get every thing working for the 26th
:redface:

 

[howdydoit]

there are way more experienced people here than me I just want to say welcom to the best ML forum on the net.

These guys will help you out plenty.

 

[Mike Brooks]

Who made the lock?

 

[Rebel]

What kind of gun are you using. Are you using real black powder, the subs don't work in flinters. We need some more info.

 

[mbw907]

Hello and welcome to the forum. About your spark problem, have you had other flints that sparked well or is this your first attempt with a new gun? I was just trying to figure if it was your flint or maybe your frizzen is too soft. If it sparked well with other recent flints and suddenly not now, you may need a different flint. But if it does the same with all flints, you will either need to harden or replace your frizzen. Good luck and warmest welcomes to you!

 

[renovato]

You might try a Black English Flint. I don't know what you're using now, but those flints spark great and last a good time. If it's anything other than the flint, the other folks will hafta answer, cuz I's still a flintlock newbie.

 

[BOGG]

I got a 50 cal Thompson and have used both the black Englist flints and the amber flint and I get almost not spark at all. A few of the flints simply chipped away. I'm using 3fff powder just for testing in the pan , still if I get no spark.......no boooom.

 

[Legionair]

Did she ever spark, or was the frizzen dead out of the box?

English flint should spark fine.
I'd guess the frizzen wasn't tempered right.

Whats the make and model flintlock?

Legion

 

[Rebel]

If it is a T/C then i would send the lock back to them and ask them to fix it. They have a Lifetime warranty and are good about fixing their stuff.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

I got a 50 cal Thompson and have used both the black Englist flints and the amber flint and I get almost not spark at all. A few of the flints simply chipped away. I'm using 3fff powder just for testing in the pan , still if I get no spark.......no boooom.

Hi Bogg and welcome to the forum,

You may very well have your flint hitting the frizzen head-on instead of with a slicing motion. If so, that will tend to crush the edge of your flint.

Put your lock in the half-cocked position and look at the edge of the flint. it should be just a little ways away (1/8" or so) from the frizzen and pointed down at about a 55-60º angle. Sometimes that will require you to put the flint on with the bevel up and sometimes with the bevel down. Move the flint back or forwards as needed to get that angle.

Once you get that flint angle set correctly, give it another try. The flint should slice the face of the frizzen and throw a bunch of sparks. If not, then you might have a problem with the frizzen.

Try adjusting the angle of the flint before you do anything else.

Hope this helps,
Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Seind the action back to Thompson Center, to fix at no charge. It sounds like you have one of the older locks, and some times those frizzens were not properly hardened, and then tempered. No reason for you to fiddle with on your dime. The factory has recently redesigned the cock and frizzen to get the correct angle, and everyone is reporting that the new frizzens spark very well. No problems.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Do you have an experienced rock locker in the area who could peruse the problem?

Bit perplexed with it being a TC, I only own one, but IMO, if I do my part, it is as close to never fail as I have found for a flinter.

 

It sounds like you may have a soft frizzen. I recently had this with my Lyman GPR. Ordered a new one and she sparks just fline. This may be what you need to do. Also - here in PA we do have the "Primative" deer season coming up in which only flinters and primative sights are permitted. But there is an earlier season that is "Muzzleloader" and cap locks and (shudder) in-lines with scopes and all that nonsense are allowed.

 

[George F.]

Have you tried the "File Test" on the frizzen face yet? If the file skips off without cutting the frizzen, then the frizzen is hard enough, if it does cut/touch the frizzen face, then it's too soft to make sparks and needs to be rehardened and tempered.Sometimes people hold the frizzen at critial temperarure too long and cook the carbon out of the face and it won't harden.

 

[Leonredbeard]

Deaconjo,
Uh, they also allow wheellocks, I inquired. Matchlocks are allowed as well. Presumably the handcannon could be used but it would be a tad difficult to hit a deer at anything beyond the end of your muzzle. :rotf: :youcrazy: :grin:
volatpluvia

 

[CWC]

Check out what Twisted said first. My GPR wouldn't throw a single spark out of the box. I was getting really mad! Then I tried flipping the flint over and it's sparking great ever since.

 

[Walks with fire]

Google up some articles on flintlock tuning and have a look. Many articles on it.

If it's a TC I would send it back for the upgraded lock as they are much improved. Although it may be a little late for that now I would do it right after season.

I tinkered with locks for a while now and there is more to it than I seem to be able to master. I feel you should find someone or a company in your area that has specialized knowledge in this area rather than try to do it yourself.

Track of the Wolf for instance will tune a flintlock and harden the frizzen as needed for 20-30 bucks and it's cheaper and better in the long run than me doing it myself. I own several flintlocks and they all fire everytime but it wasn't always that way. It's 20 bucks well spent.

The new model TC lock is fantastic right out of the box. Now it we could just talk them into building some more traditional models instead of the sinlines we would be all set. They don't seem to be very interested in building any longer barreled roundball flintlocks anymore and thats a shame. They have the best customer service in the world.

 

[Birddog6]

If you have the flint installed into the lock properly & the correct flint & it still will not fie......... then send the lock to T/C for reapair. DO NOT modify the lock in any way. No heating, bending, grinding, etc. Let T/C repair it as it is a free repair.

 

Yes, I called the Game Guys and they described the concept of "primative" in pretty extensive detail. Also - they made sure I undersstood that the 3 points on any side rule applies for the upcoming primative season as well. I had to buy some cheap binos to make sure. I know a couple guys who have dropped an illegal buck because they halucinated or counted the tines on BOTH antlers (yikes!) and came up with 3.

 

[BOGG]

Howdy folks, My mane is bogg and I'm new to the flintlock part of black powder. I have been using cap and ball for 20 years now and have have had some great fun and some wild huting. I move back here PA and you can only hunt black powder with a fkintlock so I got one. Deer black powder comes in on the 26th and I CAN NOT GET MY FLINT TO SPARK AND SET OFF MY POWDER. Can y'al help me out here so I can get every thing working for the 26th
:redface:

I sorry for the lack of info I'm in my the middle of the xmass rush and have had realy no time but I'm making time now,
I got this flintlock on a trade for some leather work I did for and older guy. It was used but in great shape. I've read this forum till my eyes bug out and the info from you guys is super and I realy do appreciate I ran the file test on the frizzen and it cut into it almost like it was made of lead, my flint angle was good,the flint was the englist type(new) and by turning the flinl angle up there is no more chipping. So the only thing it could be would be the fizzen, so I got a new one on the way.
The local sports store has one of the most beauful flintlock I have ever seen it's a hatfield ? for $700.00 bucks. If I knew more as to what to look for I would get it for my xmass gift. (wife would kill me but after being kill two three times a year I'm good ) but, I'm going to get this t/c some use then maybe mext year go for what I like. what is the best out there ? would like a full legnth wood and I'm not afrade to dayfor it
YOU GUYS ARE GREAT AND I THANK YOU ALL
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILYS