LONG ENOUGH FLINT ?

[APG]

Is it important that the flint be backed up against the screw on the jaws that hold it? I'm using a L & R replacement lock that says to use a 5/8 flint and that is what is pictured. Maybe a 7/8 flint? I removed the leather so it could be seen better.

 

[rich pierce]

That’s not going to be stable. Try 3/4”.

 

[Brazos John]

The tape shows 3/4", but that's still too short for the jaws to grip it, isn't it?
I would start with 1".

 

[Grimord]

I agree with Brazos John, start with a 1" long flint. I would also remove that big hump on that flint shown so the jaws can hold it better.

 

[APG]

The tape shows 3/4", but that's still too short for the jaws to grip it, isn't it?
I would start with 1".

It does grip but I have to move it further away from the frizzen. I think I'll give the inch long flint a try. Can always shorten it if too long.

 

[APG]

That’s not going to be stable. Try 3/4”.

I'm thinking of 7/8 or even an inch. Can always shorten it some, kinda hard to stretch them out though.

 

[jdw276]

I'm thinking of 7/8 or even an inch. Can always shorten it some, kinda hard to stretch them out though.

Don't they make a flint stretcher? Comes in two styles? Lead or leather?

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

That flint is much too small. Measure the width of the frizzen face, and the width of the **** jaws. That will tell you how wide your flint should be max. In half **** with the frizzen closed measure the length keeping in mind you want your flint to be about 1/8" from touching the frizzen and space for the leather.

 

[APG]

That flint is much too small. Measure the width of the frizzen face, and the width of the **** jaws. That will tell you how wide your flint should be max. In half **** with the frizzen closed measure the length keeping in mind you want your flint to be about 1/8" from touching the frizzen and space for the leather.

The frizzen face is 3/4" and the width of the **** jaws are 5/8". Now the thing that gets me is that at 1/2 **** the jaws of the **** are 1/2" away from the frizzen. Seams like an awful long distance to me. But with my custom made wooden flint that measures 7/8" long by 3/4 wide would be an ideal size. So maybe a 7/8" flint and do some Dremil work to fit better?

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

The frizzen face is 3/4" and the width of the **** jaws are 5/8". Now the thing that gets me is that at 1/2 **** the jaws of the **** are 1/2" away from the frizzen. Seams like an awful long distance to me. But with my custom made wooden flint that measures 7/8" long by 3/4 wide would be an ideal size. So maybe a 7/8" flint and do some Dremil work to fit better?

3/4 x 7/8 should work. You can cut a little rectangle notch out of the back of the leather the width of the **** screw to allow you to back the flint up.

 

[Snydly]

When ordering flints from TOW.... flints are measured in "Width" not length.

 

[APG]

When ordering flints from TOW.... flints are measured in "Width" not length.

Yea I got that. I had ordered and received 5/8" flints from TOW. It's the size the lock company stated that I should use, but like you can see in the pictures it seems to be a bit too short. Going to have to get larger one than the 5/8 recommend size and make adjustments to the flint size. Got some 7/8" coming from Dixie Gun Works and I'll see how those work.

 

[Cruzatte]

Is it important that the flint be backed up against the screw on the jaws that hold it? I'm using a L & R replacement lock that says to use a 5/8 flint and that is what is pictured. Maybe a 7/8 flint? I removed the leather so it could be seen better.View attachment 160806View attachment 160807View attachment 160808

In my experience those hump-backed flints are difficult to keep well secured in the **** jaws. Having a flint that fits all the way back to the **** jaw screw means that you'll have more flint to move forward when it's knap time.

 

[APG]

In my experience those hump-backed flints are difficult to keep well secured in the **** jaws. Having a flint that fits all the way back to the **** jaw screw means that you'll have more flint to move forward when it's knap time.

That's what I thought. Makes me wonder why the company that made the sidelock said to use a 5/8" flint. Just too small.

 

[jonathan hawkin]

I normally just snap a twig off and stick a bit of it behind the flint if they are a bit short, works for me.

 

[Brazos John]

the company that made the sidelock said to use a 5/8" flint.

How wide is your frizzen?
If it's 5/8", then that's the right width flint, but it needs to be longer.
TOW has different lengths with the same widths.
It's like going to Home Depot and asking for a 2 by. Well, you need to know the other dimension, too, for a proper fit.
1. So, measure the width of the frizzen. That's the first dimension.
2. Then, measure the distance along the bottom jaw, at half-****, from the jaw screw to the frizzen. Subtract the gap that you want between the flint and frizzen (around 1/4"), and that's the second dimension.

This is the Fifth Dimension. Up, Up, and Away...

 

[Brazos John]

How wide is your frizzen?
If it's 5/8", then that's the right width flint, but it needs to be longer.
TOW has different lengths with the same widths.
It's like going to Home Depot and asking for a 2 by. Well, you need to know the other dimension, too, for a proper fit.
1. So, measure the width of the frizzen. That's the first dimension.
2. Then, measure the distance along the bottom jaw, at half-****, from the jaw screw to the frizzen. Subtract the gap that you want between the flint and frizzen (around 1/4"), and that's the second dimension.

This is the Fifth Dimension. Up, Up, and Away...
View attachment 161057

OK, I reread your Post #9, and you already have the solution.
You will have the flint sticking out in front of the jaws, so 1/2" should be fine.
You can position the flint to be wedge up or wedge down, whichever fits the frizzen better.
Let us know how you do.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

When ordering flints from TOW.... flints are measured in "Width" not length.

I think they started listing the length for all there flints a few years ago. I've had good luck with consistency and if you add a note "no humps" they will pick out nice flat ones for you.

 

[hanshi]

I've found that a flint that's not supported by being backed up against the **** screw can have a bit of "flex" or "give" when it strikes the frizzen face. If a flint is too long a hole gets cut in the leather so that the back side of the flint itself rides against the screw. OTOH if the flint's too short a match stick, toothpick, etc, is put behind the flint so it moves farther out and is still solidly backed.