Freekin' Frizzen Frustrations!!!!

[Razor62]

So here I am in the final stages of my canoe gun build. I've never built or even fired a flintlock before. I was trying to brown my lock parts today at work in between non-stop phone calls, customers and questions of all sorts from my employees. I'm working with a left hand Queen Anne style lock from L&R. The process that I was using was to apply Brownels rust bluing solution to the parts and allow to rust in my makeshift damp box. Then dry the parts, card the loose rust away using an ultra fine wire wheel at roughly 900 RPM and repeat. I was on the last run with my frizzen when the wire wheel snatched it from my hand and sent it to the concrete floor at my feet. I was shocked and quite upset to realize that the frizzen had broken in two. The wheel may have added some force to the impact but it was by no means violent. The frizzen had hit the floor with only slightly more force than it would have had I merely dropped it. The fracture occurred at the right angle point where the striking surface meets the pan cover. My question for those who've been around these guns for awhile is this...
Is this what I should expect to have happened under the circumstances or is it more likely that my frizzen wasn't tempered properly in the first place and was simply too brittle? Honestly, I feel as though it would have broken under the force of the **** striking it based upon how little force was required to break it.
I've already ordered a replacement but from what I can tell it won't be ready to install but rather in the rough and untempered. I may even have to locate and drill the hole for the pivot screw. I was really hoping to have her finished this week and spend some time developing a load for the upcoming turkey season which starts in two weeks.
Looks like those turkeys may have to wait.

 

[jdkerstetter]

Likely it will be faster to order a whole new lock.....if time is of essence as you suggest.

I doubt the fizzed would've broken from being fired but don't find your situation unbelievable....frizzens are left hard on purpose. It is not at all uncommon for one to be tempered and left hard at the pan cover frizzen juction.

And then there could have been a casting flaw at that point. It is one of the drawback of cast parts. It happens....even in the best locks. Is there any indication of that?

Good Luck, J.D.

 

[pargent]

It is not uncommon to find original muskets that have had their frizzens brazzed together right where yours broke , you could get yours repaired the same or with modern weld but there could be tempering issues , if it were me I would go with the new part .

 

[Razor62]

No evidence of a casting flaw. The break was clean and there's no variation of color along the edge of the break to suggest that a hairline crack was pre existing.
Ordering a new lock makes sense on some levels as I'm sure that this won't be my last build. could always just install the new lock for the turkey season and then finish it at my leisure once the season is over.

 

[M. De Land]

I'd build a jig for it, heat sink the frizzen with some heat control paste, fire up my TIG and weld it up. It will probably be better than new with the right rod and someone who knows how to TIG weld. I would build it up on the top and back for a bit more material to reinforce at this weak point.
Get a good TIG weld for complete penetration and this very well may be a blessing in disguise. Can you imagine that frizzen busting off in hunting camp and your in Timbucktoo? High carbon steel can be ticky to weld and is often why brazing is used but with the right rod and argon/ CO2 gas mix it probably can be welded successfully. I would try ES 70 rod and see how it goes. MD

 

[M. De Land]

This was pretty high in carbon content and it welded up nicely.

The one on the left is the rebuild.

Torch I used and I'm by no means a great weldor.I'd just take it to a weld shop, you have nothing to loose and I bet they can fix it good as new for you. MD

 

[M. De Land]

If you decide to pitch it could I talk you out of it to see if I can weld it up? I'd like to experiment and try and learn something about flint lock repair. If successful I will send it back free of charge just for the chance to learn.If I burn it up nothing will be lost. Mike D.

 

[jdkerstetter]

That's a generous offer Mike. Good on ya! Enjoy, J.D.

 

[Birddog6]

I would not weld it, It is a New Lock ! I would send it to L&R and ask them to fix it. It should not have broken, they should make it correct.
Send it Prioity Mail & call them & tell them you need it repaired & right back ASAP as you are about to miss the spring turkey season.

I think they have a 3 mo or 6 mo warranty on their locks. If it is a casting flaw, you should be able to see it. Either way, it should not have broken.

Keith Lisle

 

[LRB]

Possibility it was hardened but not tempered, or not tempered enough.

 

[M. De Land]

That would be a good thing to try first but I can't imagine them replacing it for free when they learn the truth about how it happened. MD

 

[Rifleman1776]

I would send it to L&R and ask them to fix it. It should not have broken, they should make it correct.

I don't believe it would be apprpriate to ask for a warranty replacement. He was using power equipment on that frizzen. It was not broken in normal use. If the circumstances were fully explained to L&R, I have a feeling they would replace. But to suggest it was a part, or defect failure would not be honest, IMHO.

 

[matt denison]

"I've already ordered a replacement but from what I can tell it won't be ready to install but rather in the rough and untempered. I may even have to locate and drill the hole for the pivot screw. "

Razor, did you actually talk to anyone from L&R? If you just ordered it off the website then that is probably what you will get. However if you had talked to a human at the shop they may have (should have..) told you to send them the lock to fit and harden a new frizzen to it. It would give them a chance to fix their mistake.

 

[Bruce Bogart]

In my experience the guys at L&R are doing very well at customer service/satisfaction! Call and talk to them or emaoil them with the circumstances!

 

[jdkerstetter]

I agree, if properly tempered it should not have broken and L&R should stand behind it. Unfortunately you don't always get one that is properly tempered.

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[Razor62]

MD that is indeed a generous offer and I'd be happy to send it off to you. I'm going to call L&R tomorrow and see what they say. They may want me to ship it to them for inspection. If not, I'll contact you and send it your way. BTW...you won't need to send it back unless you have no use for it once it's welded in which case I'd be happy to have it as a spare.

Thanks for your kind offer. Kevin

 

[Razor62]

Keith, That's good advise. I ordered the replacement from TOW. That's where I purchased the lock. I never gave any thought to contacting L & R directly. I'll do just that.

Thanks! Kevin

 

[Razor62]

laffindog, good point I will call them. Thanks!

 

[Razor62]

Rifleman1776, You're absolutely correct. I'll give them the whole story and let them decide how it should be handled. I'm not the kind of person who can accept a refund / replacement based upon lies or leaving out details in hopes of bettering my chances.

 

[Razor62]

Thanks to everyone else for all of the input.

My only real question is whether this seemed to be a freak incident or if a frizzen is normally this brittle?

I believe that I got my answer so thanks again.