French Flints

[hillbilly1964]

I was wondering if the french flints were any better than than the English ones.
Many thanks
Terry

 

[roundball]

I was wondering if the french flints were any better than than the English ones.
Many thanks
Terry

I had used Fuller black English flints for a few years and found them to be outstanding.
Then something came up about French amber flints and I thought it would be nice to try some so I ordered 2 dozen.

I can only speak from my one experience with them and my experience using 12 of them was:
They were 'pretty';
Performance was very poor compared to Fuller BEFs;
They were soft & crumbly compared to Fuller BEFs which led me to question their reliability;
The crumbling resulted in very short flint life;
They were very expensive;

I resold the second dozen and have no plans to ever waste my time or money trying to use French amber flints again.

Others may have had different experiences...

 

[wattlebuster]

Like RB I ordered a couple dozen an my experience was the same. They seem very brittle an I could'nt get them to last half as long as the black english or a white Missouri which is my favorite :thumbsup:

 

[Linc]

My experience was the total opposite. I had only ordered two to try them out. I'm still using the first one it is holding up well in my GPR lock.

 

[410-er]

I found Black English,French Amber,and American Chert to be all very close.Tried them in TC's and Lymans.Have at least 50 of each on stock.(If not more)

 

[Tumblernotch]

In general I like English flints better, but I have used some French flints that were excellent in their sparking quality and long life. At the same time I must say that I've had a few English flints to crack and shatter after 8 or 10 shots. The only "bad" French flints I've had were mostly musket flints that were found in a Rev War cache. They were very crumbly and didn't spark well at all.

I've found that although some new French flints I've bought do crumble for a few shots, they usually seem to be harder as they wear and I get quite a few shots out of them. French flints are generally flatter on top and fit the jaw better, but most that I've seen have only one knapped edge which is a drawback if you like to swap ends when one wears out too much to knap. But like I said, I do prefer the English.

I always get my English flints from Fort Chambers Gun Shop and from Michael Lea. Mike also sells good quality French flints and I always pick up a few when I see him at the Canters Cave Trade Fair.

 

[hillbilly1964]

Gentlemen
Many thanks for the answers I ordered two dozen One of the 5/8s and 1 one of the 7/8s I will get a range report when I try them.
Many Thanks Again
Terry

 

[hillbilly1964]

Gentlemen
Many thanks for the answers I ordered two dozen One of the 5/8s and 1 one of the 7/8s I will get a range report when I try them.
Many Thanks Again
Terry

 

[Rifleman1776]

I spoke with a large vendor the other day. He sells many kinds of flint, including French amber. He said some shooter find them much hotter than the English black. Others are indifferent about them. I guess trying is the only way to determine how good/bad. Actually, I have heard and read far more negative comments than positive so I have never been eager to try them.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I spoke with a large vendor the other day. He sells many kinds of flint, including French amber. He said some shooter find them much hotter than the English black. Others are indifferent about them. I guess trying is the only way to determine how good/bad. Actually, I have heard and read far more negative comments than positive so I have never been eager to try them.

 

[hillbilly1964]

I spoke with a large vendor the other day. He sells many kinds of flint, including French amber. He said some shooter find them much hotter than the English black. Others are indifferent about them. I guess trying is the only way to determine how good/bad. Actually, I have heard and read far more negative comments than positive so I have never been eager to try them.

I am eager to try them as I have always used English Flints or Rich's ones but he is not making them right now.
Sir You are from Mountain Home I was born and raised in Henderson right across the Lake.
Hoping and Prayin to get back up there really soon.
Myself and a Buddy are wanting to open a custom rifle shop/Knife and also do some blacksmithing.
Terry

 

[hillbilly1964]

I spoke with a large vendor the other day. He sells many kinds of flint, including French amber. He said some shooter find them much hotter than the English black. Others are indifferent about them. I guess trying is the only way to determine how good/bad. Actually, I have heard and read far more negative comments than positive so I have never been eager to try them.

I am eager to try them as I have always used English Flints or Rich's ones but he is not making them right now.
Sir You are from Mountain Home I was born and raised in Henderson right across the Lake.
Hoping and Prayin to get back up there really soon.
Myself and a Buddy are wanting to open a custom rifle shop/Knife and also do some blacksmithing.
Terry

 

[Rifleman1776]

PT sent.

 

[Rifleman1776]

PT sent.

 

[MSW]

tried some in a Large Siler lock. From what I can tell, they're pretty much the same as Black English, but a good bit more expensive, so all you're really getting is the 'pretty.'

Your mileage may vary.

 

[Rokon]

I recently tried the French flints and found they flake off at a considerable rate. They're almost self-knapping.

I like the English flints better for longer life.

 

[Comrade Coffin]

I recently tried the French flints and found they flake off at a considerable rate. They're almost self-knapping.

I like the English flints better for longer life.

Personally gents, I like English flints better because they are English :thumbsup:

 

[Rifleman1776]

I recently tried the French flints and found they flake off at a considerable rate. They're almost self-knapping.

I like the English flints better for longer life.

Personally gents, I like English flints better because they are English :thumbsup:

Not a logical approach.
When I lived in England I liked English girls and I'm not English. :thumbsup: