How do you guys keep you flint good to go?

[TheTyler7011]

I have an Indian Bess. Obviously these are known for having fairly heavy springs so it’s not the nicest on flints.

Outside of tuning the lock more appropriately, how do you guys (A) Get the flint to the right size for the lock and (B) Keep it sharp.

I find that anytime I try to shape the flint with a grinding wheel or something I just turn it into a square. And when I do get it sharp, I have had some success using pliers in an upward motion against the cock to flake off the tip of the flint for maintenance. But this doesn’t last long.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I prefer to use pressure flaking to maintain a sharp edge.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/extending-flint-life.112689/

 

[TheTyler7011]

I prefer to use pressure flaking to maintain a sharp edge.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/extending-flint-life.112689/

Any guidance on this?

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

Follow the link he provided, and watch the video.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[TheTyler7011]

Follow the link he provided, and watch the video.

ADK Bigfoot

Ah thanks. Didn’t see that

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I have an Indian Bess. Obviously these are known for having fairly heavy springs so it’s not the nicest on flints.

Outside of tuning the lock more appropriately, 1. how do you guys (A) Get the flint to the right size for the lock and (B) 2.Keep it sharp.

I find that anytime I try to shape the flint with a grinding wheel or something I just turn it into a square. And when I do get it sharp, I have had some success using pliers in an upward motion against the cock to flake off the tip of the flint for maintenance. But this doesn’t last long.

1. There is no getting it to the right shape for me, I purchase the size I need. 2. I gently tool the flint in the cock jaw with my brass hammer. Grinding is a waste of time. What I do with a brass hammer or pressure flaking as Tom A Hawk posted is the way to go. You excluded a major issue, tuning the lock. That is a big factor in flint life.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I have an Indian Bess. Obviously these are known for having fairly heavy springs so it’s not the nicest on flints.

Outside of tuning the lock more appropriately, how do you guys (A) Get the flint to the right size for the lock and (B) Keep it sharp.

I'm rather well versed in India origin Bess, and India origin trade guns.

Dont' try to reshape a knapped flint. You should be using dark gray English flints. NO sawn flints please.

So first, align the left side of the flint with the inside edge of the frizzen. The side of the flint nearest the barrel, with the edge of the frizzen nearest the barrel. IF the flint is wider than right edge of the frizzen face, not a problem.

Next..., it's not unusual for the flint when in an India origin lock, to strike the frizzen a tad too close to 90 degrees. So..., you take a musket ball or rifle ball and pound it thin to about 1/8 inch thick. Then trim off a piece about the same width, and place that under the flint at the back. This will then adjust the striking edge of the flint downward just a tad, and reduce the wear and tear on your flint.

During a reenactment I can get up to two dozen shots fired before and knapping of the flint edge, when this is done.

LD

 

[bigted]

Just yesterday I took my old Doliver 62 out and shot 27 times with only 1 knapping. I have a small brass hammer and a small brass drift to chip the edge with. I will get somewhere around 20 more with another knapping.

Angle of the strike as in the above instructions will be of a great help in your endeavor. Another helpfull thing is your hammer hardness. This will make or break sparking just as much as a good English flint.

Good luck with your flinter. Bettin you will get er rite and showering good sparks soon.

 

[hanshi]

A small copper hammer keeps the flints working in my guns. Just learn to tap & sharpen the edge for more shots.

 

[waksupi]

Lock tuning and lock geometry must be right to work well. I only built guns with quality locks. I use a piece of brass flat stock, around 3/4" wide by around 3/16" thick, three inches long or thereabout. I lay the narrow end on the very leading edge of the flint, and strike it sharply with a small hammer. Perfect edge every time. One of my musket locks I had 180 shots on a single flint before I lost count. Pretty sure I went over two hundred rounds with it. I would say my average for needing to knap a flint is around 50-60 shots. I fully expect to get a minimum of 120 shots from a flint.