flintlock pistol

[jim/wa]

just finished a pistol kit i have a problem when you pull the trigger it fires but the frizzen does not open enough the frizzen spring feels right thelock feels like it wants to catch i think it might have to do with trigger any suggestions this is my first build and the second kit is in the works right now the trigger is one you pin inside

 

[Swampman]

Are your flints long enough? Did you lubricate the frizzen pivot screw?

 

[Charly_the_rebel]

A not rigth opening frizzen is never aProblem of the trigger.
The problem ist the not timed action 'tween Hammers forc and Frizzen -springs resistance.
It need to be timed very good.
The Hammrers Force alwas has to be a li bit higher than the Frizzen-springs resistance.
Another matterfact is the exactely size and fitting - Position of the Flint 'tween the Hammerlips.

Flint needs to hit Frizzen about 1/4 Inch obove midle of the frizzenplate - and flint never does touch Pan, when it is down towards Pan in its lowest Position

Check all this - may it work then.

Hope I could give you a hand.

 

Did you disassemble the lock during the build? If so, you may have simply tightened down the screws in the lock too much, and it's creating binding that's slowing down the cock when it falls. First thing I would do is take the lock off and loosen the screws. Tighten them back down, but don't go bananas... just snug them up good. You don't need to use a two-foot-long screwdriver and crank 100 lb-feet of torque onto them.

If that's not the problem, and your flint is long enough, and positioned properly, and all that good stuff, you may just have too heavy of a frizzen spring. The spring can be lightened by thinning it, however, you have to be really careful, and I would get advice from others who know way more about springs than I do before attempting that.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Hard to say without eyeballing or handling. Best advice can give, is whatever you do, go for the obvious and easy things first, leave the complicated redesign/reengineering thingys for last.

I would see if the frizzen screw is too tight, try with flint bevel up/down, check that flint is making maximum frizzen face contact, try longer/shorter flints, insure rear of flint is butted up solid and flint is tight in jaws

 

[longfowler]

check to make sure that the inside edge of the frizzen is not draging on the barrel flat! I have a musket that does this unless I put a thin piece of gasket paper behind the lock to shim it out.