Leather flint wrap

[Nemovir]

I am assuming any leather is ok to wrap the flint so long as it's rough?

 

[Calum]

'evening,

In my experience, try various leathers and see what wraps well. Too thick and it won't fold well. I use scraps from different projects.

Elk seems to work best in my Traditions. I recently picked up a Tennessee Valley and I'm still using the one that came with it, so I don't know what it prefers.

Calum

 

[Grenadier1758]

The leather needs to be thick enough to provide a bit of cushion while holding the flint firmly in place. I like to cut a notch to clear the jaw screw. This helps to fold the leather around the flint and gives me the thickness of the leather to adjust the flint position in the jaws.

 

[Crewdawg445]

The leather needs to be thick enough to provide a bit of cushion while holding the flint firmly in place. I like to cut a notch to clear the jaw screw. This helps to fold the leather around the flint and gives me the thickness of the leather to adjust the flint position in the jaws.

:thumbsup:

I was able to find a piece from a local Hobby Lobby that will yield enough to last a lifetime. Experiment and find what works for you, each flint will vary and hold a little differently in the cock jaws.

 

[Many Klatch]

Thicker leather will allow you to use flints that have more of a hump or are more unevenly shaped. I have had a lot of good luck using Elk hide.

 

[necchi]

Got an old pair of work boots layin around?
Many are made of "leather",,

 

[Walks with fire]

I do use leather from work boots and it works good. Most of them have a loop that is nice and thin for pulling them on. One loop will yield 2 flint holders. One thing I don't like about leather is that as it gets fired a lot it can actually smolder sometimes. It's never been an issue but it is one more thing to keep an eye on.

Lately I have been using lead and like it more than leather. The lead doesn't give like leather does and it knapps a fresh sharp edge every shot. I do notice steel from the frizzen builds up on the flint with leather. Lead does need to be tightened though after the first few shots but once it sets in it's good to go. Make very thin lead strips from a flattened round ball. Leather held flints have enough give to bounce after it hits the frizzen; lead doesn't.

 

[Walks with fire]

Roundball gave me a tip once about getting a diamond impregnated wheel for a dremel tool to smooth out the humps on flints. Works great.

 

[M. De Land]

True but the best thing is to grind off those dang flint humps with a green wheel emery stone so the top of the cock jaw can get an even grip on the flint through the leather.
It's not good for the cock jaw either as more tension must be applied to keep a humped flint in place.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I am assuming any leather is ok to wrap the flint so long as it's rough?

We can get reduntant here with replies. Simply stated, 'wat works for you is wat you should use'.
As for sources, go to the local resale shops and look for old leather jackets. They sell cheap and can provide a lot of leather for projects.