Harpers Ferry Flintlock pistol problem

[wikinger]

Have a HF flintlock pistol. Not really a reliable firing weapon. Seems like I remember reading that the angle of the hammer, even on the originals, put the flint in the wrong position to the touch hole. Anyone confirm this? I ordered another hammer from Dixie and am modifing the angle so it should throw the spark more reliably into the pan.
Seems to throw sparks forward of the pan quite often.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Wikinger,
They say misery loves company. Well here I am. I had a HF rifle about 15 or 20 years ago and it would spark like the fourth of July, but not in the pan. I fussed and fussed and never did like the results and gave up. Hate to say that but I did. I have plenty of other flinters that are reliable and didn't feel like fussin with it anymore. I think you are on the right track though. In my opinion, there is just something with the lock geometry that prevents good spark results. :hatsoff:
Flintlocks Forever
Lar

 

[Flintlock_bob]

I have one too and the flint strikes way up at the top of the frizzen, and the flint never gets anywhere near the pan I just hang it on the wall now. That must be why my original HF rifle was converted to cap ignition.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I agree, the Harpers Ferry pistols and rifles look really cool and represent a good era for fur trade guns but if you want to actually shoot them the easiest solution is to convert to percussion. Then, they still look cool and also go BANG. :grin:

 

[Doc Arroyo]

Yep, them Italians got a pristine pistol to make their molds from. The reason the pistol was pristine was that it never threw a spark! :haha:

This is what I have done to fix a number of them.