Knapping a Flint - Repairs, Modifications or New

[F_Thomas]

Where can I find information on how to properly knap a flint. I ordered a dozen from TOTW and some are pretty oddly shaped. Had the original flint on the gun break today at the range and had to replace it with one of the new ones. It could have used some modifications though it worked fine.

Where does one get the info I am seeking?

 

[paulvallandigham]

There are two kinds of Knapping: The first is to actually shape a Gun flint; the second is to sharpen the edge. I am not sure what, or which type of knapping you need, or want.

If you buy good flints they should not have to be worked much to fit your flintlock. Some come with a Hump on the upper side, and that can be ground off with a mizzy wheel or diamond cutter for a dremel tool. Knapping, using flint knapper tools, like antlers, and hammerstones requires a lot of training, practice, and acquired skill to do consistenly well. Flaking is perhaps the easiest knapping skill to learn, but it still requires a lot of practice to do it right. Look up Flint knapping sites on your computer to find information on this skill.

As for knapping the edge of the flint, so that it strikes the face of the frizzen evenly, the fastest way to do it is as follows: With an empty gun, and the flint mounted in the jaws, lift the frizzen up with the inside edge of your left thumb, until you can lower the cock, so that the edge of the flint touches the heel of the frizzen.( Think of the frizzen as similar to the human leg and foot). Now, hold the frizzen at that height, with your thumb back from the face so the flint can't cut the tip of your thumb, while you cock the hammer back to full-cock. Now, pull the trigger to drop the hammer. When the edge of your flint strikes the heel of the frizzen, a small "spawl" of flint will be flaked off the bottom side of the flint across the entire width of the frizzen.

your flint is now square to the frizzen and the edge will cut steel across the entire width of the frizzen, giving you the most sparks and the best chance that these sparks will remain hot enough, long enough to ignite the powder in your flash pan.

Good English Flints can be purchased from Track of the Wolf, and other suppliers. Our own member, Rich Pierce, of St. Louis, is also a gunflint knapper, who sells flints to members here. His flints use local flint from cherts, are white in color, not black or gray, as the English flints are, but they spark well, and give long flint life. His prices are reasonable too.

You may have purchased flints that are too long. If so, you can usually return them to exchange for the correct length flints. Contact the source of your flints. :hatsoff:

 

[ebiggs1]

I don't think flints need be as sharp as some would have you believe. You can make a flint as sharp as a razor and it will cut your finger like butter. A very easy way is to get a small brass rod in the 3/16” to 1/4” dia range and about 5 inches long. Simply tap the edge of the flint while the flint is in the jaws of the cock until you get some sharp edges. Just a few taps are all that is necessary. Of coarse you need to use a brass rod and the gun needs to be unloaded.

 

[BrownBear]

Probably because I grew up using one, but I prefer a tine from deer antler, and I "pressure flake" rather than whack on it. Doesn't move as much flint, but in my hands it gives me lots more control.

Lots of paths to the same destination. I haven't received it yet, but I just ordered the book on gun flint knapping from TOW. Always open to "new" ideas, or in this case, how it was done 150 years ago.

 

[F_Thomas]

All of the information is interesting and I particularly appreciate Paul taking the time to go into so much detail. I printed this one out.

Thanks for a great start!

 

[F_Thomas]

Probably because I grew up using one, but I prefer a tine from deer antler, and I "pressure flake" rather than whack on it. Doesn't move as much flint, but in my hands it gives me lots more control.

Lots of paths to the same destination. I haven't received it yet, but I just ordered the book on gun flint knapping from TOW. Always open to "new" ideas, or in this case, how it was done 150 years ago.

Please come back and post on what you think of the book. I had looked at it myself and then decided to post here prior to going any further. I am new to flintlocks and flint I used yesterday was anything but square, but I was able to make it square to the frizen so it worked well.

 

[2172]

if I have a humpback flint, I grind it flat with a muzzy wheel. If my flint gets dull, I tap the leading edge, lightly, with the back of my knife blade..Hank

 

[hanshi]

The knife blade thing does work and I use it as well. I've noticed the flint doesn't have to be so sharp and will spark fine if the edge is reasonably thin and the edge rough.

 

[paulvallandigham]

If you believe that, I have a brass knapping hammer I made years ago that I have been trying to GIVE away every since. I'll even pay the postage. The hammer head is made from a piece of 3/8" square brass stock; the "handle" is actually a shank from a short screwdriver I tapped, and screwed into the brass head. I was trying to make both a knapping hammer, And a Cockscrew for my flintlock.

Both work, after a fashion. I stopped using the hammer to knapp my flint after learning to use my frizzen as described above. I didn't need the extra weight in my pouch, thank you. The screwdriver was too long, and I only need just a blade long enough to fit down into the slot in the cockscrew. I found that on the combination Flinter's tool from the Hawken Shop, and that is what I use to loosen or tighten my cockscrew, now. :thumbsup:

 

[hanshi]

Using a knife - or just about anything made of metal - I'll scrape the flint edge when it starts to misfire. Not only does the flint (most but not all) get dull but I read that the edge gets clogged with bits of frizzen and fouling. I've been able to get several more shots by scraping (sometimes 2 or 3 times) the flint edge so there must be something to it. I always give the flint and frizzen a quick wipe when I reload but that doesn't do what scraping will do. Generally after 2-3 passes on the flint it needs a knapping to get it to fire.