palmettorifle said:
After reading the numerous posts on this forum I have learned a great deal about flintlocks and with the purchase of my first flinter I set before you the following list.
Blue Ridge in .36
xtra flints
powder horn
pan primer
2 lbs. Goex 3f
8 oz Goex 4f
vent pick and panbrush
3 xtra hickory ramrods
ball starter
500 Hornady .350 balls
200 pillow ticking shooting patches
3 8oz. bottles of Lehigh Valley
jag
scrapper
patch worm
ball puller
xtra rod tips
knapping hammer
and about 1000 cleaning patches
If I need something else please let me know.
Thanks Mike
Add my 2¢.
I like to carry my patching in strips. About 1-1/2" x 6 ft. One I soak (twice) ahead of time in lube and dry, then roll it in a waxed deerskin bag. The other I leave dry. That serves as patching, cleaning strips, the end of it eliminates the need of a pan brush and it also wipes the caked on crud off that a pan brush won't.
I carry everything in a 7" x 7" pouch and use 3F for both prime and charge (this in a .54) Simplifies life. I use a little corked brass tube as a priming flask that I refill from the horn as needed.
Good idea to have thee spare hickory rods. I always make extras when I buy a gun and, knock wood, have notbroken one yet. If i didn't have the spares I know I would have snapped many by now.
I use a loading block, or several. I always load from the block. I have a little 1-1/2" stub starter attached to my favorite with a leather thong that I can use, but usually just scooch down on the main rammer to 4 or 5" and start the balls with that. When I shoot the blocks empty I refill them, rather than patching at the muzzle. Just my preference.
I'd recommend a can of Beechwood Casey Sheath. After cleaning it protects the metal very well. I wipe with water, followed by 90% iso alcohol, (dry patches in between) and then the Sheath. I avoid WD-40 for the most part around firearms, though I do use the liquid in a squirt bottle to spritz patches after a hot soapy water cleaning I give my BP firearms a couple times each season. Usually I just tip them muzzle downslope and use soapy patches. I also carry a little brass Ted Cash oiler tube with Sheath on it for oiling and field cleaning. A little forged screwdriver for pulling the lock and tightening the top jaw screw.
I never could get the control I like with a napping hammer when dressing the edge of flints. I have a little steel nibbler I use. Frequently I use just the spine of my belt knife. The nibbler is a rod with the last 1/8" turned down so it has a 1/16" step. The rod is in a wood handle about 1" long and 3/4" around. Set the step on the fling and either just press down or else tap it with the flat of a knife. Much more controlable than the little gaget hammers. I had the blacksmith nip the edge of my forged screwdriver so I could use that for nibbling flints, too. The flint nibbler was a gift, so I have a back-up in the event one is lost.
I carry bag and horn hunting, plinking, target shooting, etc. That's what I'm in this for. Not plastic expedients to make it easier.
I do concede to carrying and wearing Sonic ear protectors when just shooting (as opposed to hunting). Saying "Eh?" to everything once you turn 50 is too period correct for me. my daily prescription lenses are ploycarbonate safety rated, so I've got that covered.