Joseph Meek's caplock rifle.
Of course not. I made the comment because the rifle reminded my of a Cabelas/ TC Hawken. It wasn’t a judgement of quality or value.Mr Lowe, If it did come off the rack at Cabela's would that be bad?
I started with a cap lock, changed to flint and like both. But I think I'm more interested in flinters over all. But I've been more lucky in hunting with a flintlock, and maybe that is just the way the cards played out. Just enjoy what you want to use and have fun.Dang, I wish I wrote that! Great job, my feelings exactly. Thank you
I think a flintlock is more dependable. Let me explain.
A flintlock can fail to fire but it's always from user error. The powder in pan or main charge was wet. The flint needed sharpening or replacement. Maybe just adjusted. The touch-hole was clogged. The frizzen wasn't clean or too soft. The powder in the pan wasn't the proper amount. While hunting the pan powder leaked out. The lock is cheap with bad geometry and should be replaced. All of these problems can be fixed by the user. If they are a flintlock will fire every time.
A caplock can also fail due to user error. A clogged nipple. Wet powder. Poor cap to nipple fit that takes multiple strikes to fire. Poor fit of cap and it falls off. Weak hammer spring that won't fire off the cap. This is tied into cap fit too.
The list for the caplock is much smaller and the reason that shooters like them. However, the caplock can fail from one problem that the user has no control over. A bad cap. You can't always tell it's bad by looking at it. Sometimes you can see the problem but few users will inspect every cap to notice it. Especially, if a capper is used. I suspect bad caps might have been a bigger problem in the fur trade era than now but it can still happen now. Moisture can also cause a cap to not fire.
Even when both the flintlock user and caplock user do everything right. It's only the caplock that can still fail due to the cap itself.
A tent snob? That's a new one for me.
I use what I like and don't give a lick what others use.
I've had flint shatter on the first throw of the cock as well...
But I'll take my chances .... Give me a flint gun anyday.
I have no experience with the amber flints. I'm a fan of Tom Fullers English flints. They seem very reliable.
The RSW caps were very reliable for me. Musket or #11. That's the past though. I'll never go back to a caplock.
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