Got Sparks?

I'll be going out to pick up some more around April or May. It's in a railroad cut so there is plenty there. Since I didn't have a wheellock when I got it, I only picked up a couple of small pieces, enough to make 6 cuts. While working on the pistol lock, I tried samples of all the pyrite I had or could get and this works the best. We've used up 3 shooting the pistol and so far it's fired consistently. I'll be glad to share when I get it. I'll probably pick up 5 or 10 pounds. Maybe a bit more now that I think about it

 

[Teleoceras]

Vern:

I'll be going out to pick up some more around April or May. It's in a railroad cut so there is plenty there. Since I didn't have a wheellock when I got it, I only picked up a couple of small pieces, enough to make 6 cuts. While working on the pistol lock, I tried samples of all the pyrite I had or could get and this works the best. We've used up 3 shooting the pistol and so far it's fired consistently. I'll be glad to share when I get it. I'll probably pick up 5 or 10 pounds. Maybe a bit more now that I think about it

Ohhh man! I'd pay ya if you could get a chunk or two for me as well. :master:

Fracturing pyrite chunks has been my bane as well. :boohoo:

I'd love to try them out on Sparky as well as Bertha when she is finished.

 

OK, I'll pick up 15 or 20 pounds This stuff is about as consistent as flint or maybe a bit better. I know I've never shot my flintlock pistols as much as we've shot the wheellock pistol in the past couple of weeks. It's a facinating gun to shoot and I think the rifle will be even better!

 

[SquirrelsaurusR]

At a minimum I intend to try target shooting with it.

I hope you'll pop some 3x5 cards with it and send one in for the shooting match.
A wheellock entry would be great!

By the way, I told my wife it's all your fault

Resistance is futile... ::

 

Maybe for the April match. It would be interesting to take on the long gun shooters with a 20" barrel wheellock Actually, my wife is very supportive. She bought both wheellock lock kits for Christmas. Of course that meant the kits were in the house for over a month before I could get my hands on them. She wants a nicely decorated wheellock for the living room. I explained that it would take building a couple of guns to "work up" to the level of decoration she wants, he he. I have plans for several wheellocks that I think would be fun to build. A nice pair of "dags" would be a great next project or maybe a heavy target rifle

 

[Leonredbeard]

Hey Vern,
Thanks for your committment to the cause. You just let me know what I can donate for you trouble and where I can pick them up. They sound like they are worth plenty to us wheellock boys. YeeeeeeHaw! :: :: :master:
God bless.
volatpluvia

 

No problem. I'll post an announcement in a couple of months after I go get the rock. All the reading I've done says that a wheellock was the fastest, most dependable form of ignition available until the percussion lock came out. All it needs is a good piece of pyrites. Maybe we can show these other guys what they're missing

 

[Teleoceras]

Vern:

OK, I'll pick up 15 or 20 pounds This stuff is about as consistent as flint or maybe a bit better. I know I've never shot my flintlock pistols as much as we've shot the wheellock pistol in the past couple of weeks. It's a facinating gun to shoot and I think the rifle will be even better!

:master:

As long as the pyrite won't grind down the wheel, then I do look forward to what you can send.

Many thanks!

 

It's not that hard It hasn't left a mark on my pistol and we've fired off well over a hundred rounds. The Maryland Historical Arms Show in Timonium is March 19 and 20. Anyone planning to attend?

 

[benvenuto]

superb work!
heres to its early completion!

 

Got a little done this week. Fitted the barrel, lock, and trigger to the stock. Started shaping the stock and planning the inlays. This would go so much quicker if I didn't have to work for a living

 

Couldn't wait any longer so I packed it up and went to the range this weekend. Sparks' first target, 5 shot, 25 yards, offhand. Now I can relax and work on finishing the stock

 

[Leonredbeard]

Vern,
She's a beauty! :imo: :m2c: I have also tooks some of my creations to the range and shot before finishing the stock. It just gets to you sometimes. Hee Hee! By the way, now I don't mean to be a pest :master: :master: :master: but have you got out to the railroad cut yet to pick up some pyrites. Just inquiring :sorry:
God bless.
volatpluvia

 

Thanks! I just couldn't wait any longer. I'm ready to start the patch box and shape the fore end then start about six months worth of inlays. I'm planning to go up to the cut in late May with a friend of mine who has a pickup. That way, we can haul back a good supply for all the wheellock shooters

 

[Teleoceras]

Vern:

I'm planning to go up to the cut in late May with a friend of mine who has a pickup. That way, we can haul back a good supply for all the wheellock shooters

I think I can say for the Wheellockers who you will be helping out, MAJOR THANKS! :RO: :master: :master: :master: :master:

 

[Bookie]

I know this fatboy would like to get his hands on some pyrites! Cheers, Bookie

 

[WRussell]

Here's another customer for your pyrites.

I'm in California, so -- shipping rocks to California? Why not. I'm - hopefully - going to build a wheellock and I also have a Miquelet, which I understand used pyrite.

You ordered your Rifle Shoppe parts in November and you have the gun finished?! I ordered my 623 wheellock pistol parts in September and the only thing that's happened is the money has been taken. They sure are frustrating at TRS - the only time I've been able to get someone to answer the phone was the one time when I placed my order. They've stopped using email. Was it shipped months ago and lost in the mail? How will I ever know without driving to his shop and pounding on the door? My first order from them took over a year, which is fine, but it was extremely annoying not getting any kind of feedback. Blackley in England can take a year or more, but he treats you like a human being and lets you know what's happening. (Dyson has been amazingly prompt, while I'm on the subject)

On the other hand, I hear the guy who runs TRS has health problems, and he wants to make parts, not deal with customers. I'm very glad he's there (if he's still there).

OK, rant over. I'll get off my soapbox now.

It's really nice of you, Vern, to offer to make high quality pyrite available (I've looked for suppliers too - nothing). I certainly want to make it worth your while if you go to the trouble of supplying the stuff.

Bill Baldock

 

They always returned my calls when I left a message. There was a delay while they got the screw sets made up but the lady a spoke with was very helpful. I just ordered the lock kits and made the other parts for the guns. I did the tempering myself so I didn't have to worry about that.

I've worked with five different types of pyrites so far. The massive and crystal forms are fairly brittle but do work. The pyrites in quartz matrix is too hard and can scratch the tempered wheel. Calcite matrix is too soft and crumbles. It's probably the most common in the US. The pyrites in limestone is hard and tough but softer than the wheel. I've had excellent results with it. I'll let everyone know when I get out to restock. Help with the postage would be appreciated but I certainly don't want anything for the rock

I'll be shaping the fore end on my short rifle this weekend and hope to get it back out on the range. The wheellocks are just too much fun to shoot!

 

[Leonredbeard]

Hey Vern,
Thanks for the update. You mentioned that you were shooting offhand. It would be my opinion that that is the only way one could shoot a cheek gonne. Is this true, or are there other ways?
God bless.
volatpluvia

 

There are a couple of ways to hold for offhand shooting. I haven't tried it yet, but I think one could also brace the left arm to a tree or post and lay the gonne over the left arm. And you could shoot from a bench if it was high enough

With a 20" tapered barrel, the rifle only weighs 5.5 pounds, so it's not hard to hold steady. For comparison, the pistol has a 12" tapered barrel and weighs 2 pounds. I haven't played with it enough to figure out the best way to shoot it but that's part of the fun!