Functionality of cut agate in flintlocks

[BE Wild Willy]

Yeah, but then you encounter the age old problem. What to use; english black, french amber, or cut agate? :stir:

 

[BE Wild Willy]

BTW, there is one of the gizmos on Fleabay, search "Kypers Mechanical Flintlock Flint"

And sorry if I've gotten off topic...

 

[Rifleman1776]

that looks like a briliant idea, but does it work?

Why would you even be interested?
That would be like taking an ATV on a mule trail ride. If this were a religion using that would be sinful. Yuk. :barf:

 

[Larry Pletcher]

that looks like a briliant idea, but does it work?

i too am curious if it works? but, i dont think i would ever actually use something like that. new fangled devices have no business in flintlocks.

-Matt

In an earlier post I told you that I had a slow motion video of one of these. Yes it works, but, while it produces scary sparks, the sparks don't seem to ignite the pain any faster. Ini the video you can see the sparks frying in the pan, and then later there goes the promising powder. I'll try to find the video. If I can, I'd upload it to YouTube so you can see it.
Regards,
Pletch

 

[cynthialee]

well if it wern't for sin we'd all be bored to death...
:grin:

 

[Larry Pletcher]

Here is a link to the Zippo slow motion video:

Link to the Zippo Slow motion video

We did this at 5000 fps. Note this is illegal at an NMLRA shoot! If you watch where the sparks go, you can see that even though it makes a lot of sparks, it really isn't any faster. I use video play back software that allows frame by frame advance. I have three large tuned Silers that I'd take over this any day.

Regards,
Pletch

 

[BE Wild Willy]

Thanks for posting the video, looks like you dang near burned your digits off.

 

[Matt85]

thanks for the video.

-matt

 

[hockeyref]

WOW - any one else notice the frizzen doing the wave?

 

[Larry Pletcher]

WOW - any one else notice the frizzen doing the wave?

I bet that's got you wondering! The answer isn't a VERY flexible frizzen. The frizzen has a piece of leather glued to the striking surface. The leather catches the wheel of the lighter so it will spin rather than slide down the frizzen. The "wave" you see is the tail of the leather sticking up.
Regards,
Pletch

 

[hockeyref]

Ahhhh... ok. I did notice the leather on the picture above, but forgot about it when I watched the video....

 

[Rifleman1776]

Interesting. Not much real value but interesting. Did you ever do any vids of a flinter with depleted uranium facing on the frizzen?
Yes, yes, I know, illegal as can be. But, still might be interesting to see in action.

 

[Larry Pletcher]

Interesting. Not much real value but interesting. Did you ever do any vids of a flinter with depleted uranium facing on the frizzen?
Yes, yes, I know, illegal as can be. But, still might be interesting to see in action.

No, I didn't play with the uranium stuff. In fact I didn't plan to do this one. It just showed up on 2009. I was interested in any legitement lock I could lay my hands on. From 2007 to 2009 we collected 80+ videoes on locks. Some locks were videoed more than once. We used different priming powders, flints, locks up-side-down etc.

Some of the most important, to me, were the originals that folks provided - Jim Chambers to mention one.
Regards,
Pletch

 

[ebiggs1]

Whatever, man! :shocked2:

You need some more coffee.

You are right here though.

 

[ebiggs1]

You know I would bet that anybody reading my posts form the beginning to now, on this topic, would grant me I have given swan agates the benefit of the doubt. I have some 20 or so different ones from different sources and tried five different brands of locks. :hmm:
Not one has preformed as well as the average Black English has in the very same brands of locks.
It makes for an easy conclusion to say they are simply inferior to Black English. :td:
You should know by now it doesn't matter to me what a person uses. I am the one that even tested the Firestorm with subs and swan flints for crying out loud. But on agates the bottom line is they don't compare to Black English.

Who knows anybodies shooting habits? You may only shoot 20 times, or even less, a year. In that case a swan agate would do just fine. For me I couldn't buy enough to keep me shooting for a month. :wink:

 

[Rifleman1776]

As I always say:
Wat ever works for ye.
Do yer own thang.
Wat ever floats yer stick.
But, I'll have to try some of yer swan flints some time. Otherwise I'll stick to my sawn ones. :wink: :rotf:

 

[hanshi]

That Zippo flint is amazing in the sparks it creates. I believe we all have to admit that we can only speak for our own results regarding flints. If someone has great results with agate, then agate wins out over BE flints. If BE flints gives a shooter great results but agate does not, then BE flints are the best for that shooter.

 

[Joel/Calgary]

well if it wern't for sin we'd all be bored to death...
:grin:

OK, the ol' sh!t-disturber just has ta ask: Does Sevan have a similar recreational philosophy?
:stir:

Regards from further North,
(and East, too)
Joel

edit: [censored]!!!?? I didn't even spell it out and it got bleeped!

 

[ebiggs1]

If someone has great results with agate, then agate wins out over BE flints. If BE flints gives a shooter great results but agate does not, then BE flints are the best for that shooter.

This is so true and really the bottom line. Use what works best for YOU. But most of us are accomplished flintlock shooters and can get almost anything to work.
The issue comes with new shooters. What do you advise them to start out with? Certainly not swan agate rocks. There is just no way I will ever recommend a new to flintlocks person, or older one for than matter, to use them. I doubt seriously any of you would either? Except for one guy, anyway, that is.

 

[cynthialee]

:haha:

no