Knapping Hammer Use?

[Smokey Plainsman]

Hey all! So I bought this cute little brass flint knapping hammer to put in my shooting pouch:

I got it from Track of the Wolf, my favorite. It is about 4" long and tucks neatly into my pouch. But I am wondering of the proper way to use the hammer? The directions say to hit the front edge of the flint square on. Is that correct? What is the flint supposed to look like after a proper sharpening?

Just looking on the PROPER and EFFECTIVE way to use this hammer. Thanks!!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I have found, on English flint, that the pointed edge of the tool, tapped on the edge of the flint will often remove a tiny chip that then leave the edge of the flint sharper than it was. I've use the back of the blade on my patch knife more often than such a hammer . I've used the large, flat face of the hammer to tap sights to adjust where they rest, and with a small pin used as an improvised punch to drift out pins in the stock.

LD

 

[M. De Land]

Do your self a favor and learn to pressure flake the edge rather than beat it up with one of those flint breaking percussors.
Flints will last many times longer and work better if you do.

 

[Billnpatti]

The proper way to use your flint hammer is to put your finger under the bottom of the leading edge of the flint to support it and gently tap on the top of the leading edge with just enough force to chip off tiny bits of flint. You just want to create a fresh edge not knock off big pieces of flint. By placing your finger under the bottom of the edge, it helps to keep from breaking off big pieces. But, be careful with your supporting finger, that flint edge is sharper than many knives and you can cut your self if you are not careful.

 

[Rifleman1776]

The proper way to use your flint hammer is to put your finger under the bottom of the leading edge of the flint to support it and gently tap on the top of the leading edge with just enough force to chip off tiny bits of flint. You just want to create a fresh edge not knock off big pieces of flint. By placing your finger under the bottom of the edge, it helps to keep from breaking off big pieces. But, be careful with your supporting finger, that flint edge is sharper than many knives and you can cut your self if you are not careful.

Supporting the cock (hammer) while knapping also relieves pressure from the sear and protects your lock. Otherwise, the advice from B&P is sound and needs to be heeded. :thumbsup:

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Thanks so much, all. I will try the method of applying upward force to the flint with my finger while striking it.

 

[M. De Land]

Well Ok, but using a percussor on a flint edge is like shooting a white tail deer with a 4 bore elephant rifle. Sure it gets the job done in a crude way at the expense of meat, lead, powder and shoulder ligaments but could be done much more efficiently with a .45 cal patched ball.
Guess I need to do a short video of copper point pressure flaking so folks can see how easy and precise it is.

 

[Don Steele]

That would be interesting to see. :thumbsup:

 

[Black Jack]

I would like to see that. Have read articles about it but a video would be great!

 

[Tom Compton]

The proper way to use your flint hammer is to put your finger under the bottom of the leading edge of the flint to support it and gently tap on the top of the leading edge with just enough force to chip off tiny bits of flint. You just want to create a fresh edge not knock off big pieces of flint. By placing your finger under the bottom of the edge, it helps to keep from breaking off big pieces. But, be careful with your supporting finger, that flint edge is sharper than many knives and you can cut your self if you are not careful.

:thumbsup: :hatsoff:

 

[hanshi]

I've never been able to do "pressure flaking"; maybe its the arthritis, I don't know. But I have no problem knapping the flints in the cock and getting long flint life. I use a hand ground screwdriver blade with a piece of copper on the opposite end. I can knapp the flint and use the screwdriver end to loosen or tighten the cock screw. It was easy to make, too.

 

[Rick Boylan]

I'd sure like to see your video of that. I use a pressure flaking tool myself but I'd like more instructions so I can get better at it.

:hatsoff:

 

[M. De Land]

I had one on here before but made the mistake of using my Yazel match pistol to show it and it does not meet the rule criterion for traditional muzzle loader.
I'll try to get another up using a traditional Kentucky pistol.

 

[Black Hand]

Sell it and use the back of your knife. That is the PROPER and EFFECTIVE way to use this hammer... :wink:

 

[rich pierce]

Rifleman 1776 gives a good warning. Easier to replace a flint than a sear or tumbler. Always support the cock so no pressure on the sear nose while knapping.

 

[fleener]

I am really new to flintlocks.

Can someone post a some pictures on how to use your knife to get a fresh edge on the flint?

I have tried using mine, but not sure I am doing it quite right.

Thanks

fleener

 

[LongrifleDoc]

Please do. Such a video would be very much appreciated.

 

[Black Hand]

I am really new to flintlocks.

Can someone post a some pictures on how to use your knife to get a fresh edge on the flint?

I have tried using mine, but not sure I am doing it quite right.

Thanks

fleener

With the hammer at full or half-cock, tap the edge of the flint from above (at about a 30 degree angle, NOT 90 degrees to the edge) with the spine of your knife. It removes flakes from the underside of your flint. A couple of passes and your edge is sharp.

No special knapping tool required...

 

[Billnpatti]

Hey all! So I bought this cute little brass flint knapping hammer to put in my shooting pouch:

I got it from Track of the Wolf, my favorite. It is about 4" long and tucks neatly into my pouch. But I am wondering of the proper way to use the hammer? The directions say to hit the front edge of the flint square on. Is that correct? What is the flint supposed to look like after a proper sharpening?

Just looking on the PROPER and EFFECTIVE way to use this hammer. Thanks!!

There have been many good inputs with regard to knapping a fresh edge on a flint. Some suggest using the spine of a knife. That works but does not address the original question of how to use a knapping hammer. M.D. is going to post a video or some photos showing how to use pressure flaking. I am looking forward to seeing that. M.D. is a very knowledgeable man and one to whom we need to pay attention when he speaks. He is one of our contributors whom I hold in high regard. Only thing is that he did not address the original question regarding the use of your hammer. Hammer, knife spine, pressure flaking...they all work and work well but we need to keep our focus on the OPs original question.

As for the suggestion that one needs to take care when knapping with the flint in the cock, that is a very good suggestion. I don't think the taps that I recommended would do any damage to your lock but, locks are expensive and need to be taken care of, so, it is a good idea to heed that warning. Perhaps, if your flint needs a bit more strenuous tapping you would be well advised to remove it from the cock to knapp it. I am not well versed in pressure flaking and I don't know how much pressure it takes to flake the edge of a flint. If it takes very much pressure, that, too may cause damage to your lock if you do it to a flint that is still held in the cock. Perhaps even then it might be a good idea to remove the flint from the lock before knapping it.

I look forward to M.D.'s photos or video of pressure flaking. It will be valuable information.

 

[M. De Land]

Good point Bill about me not actually answering the direct question. One of my failings is to get off topic easily.
I would not use the flat of the hammer to work the flint edge on this tool. I would turn it around and use the wedge side vertically to pressure flake the flint edge if that was the only tool available to me.
The percussors are particularly damaging to the flint edge at the corners as one just does not have the control from a strike as he does from applied pressure from a pointed copper.
Also with the percussor you cannot raise or lower the edge like you can with a pressure flaker.
I'll get busy on the video this PM and see if I still have enough room on Photobucket to get it up.