Making a flintlock pistol spark

[Ricky Nelson]

I am new to flintlocks,I have always shot a percussion rifle and pistol. I bought a flintlock pistol from an estate sale and it was in really bad shape had been hanging over a fire place along beside a Kentucky long rifle for what looked like many years. I cleaned it up, refinished the wood and browned the barrel and blued the lock. looks really good but I cant get it to spark. I was told it could be the frizzen isnt hard enough, does anyone know the best process of hardening the frizzen?

 

[torn moc]

OIL or anything of the sort on the frizzen or sharp end of the flint will make it not spark.
So first wipe those surfaces with a cloth saturated in rubbing alcohol,,,,then try to get a spark..

and ..make sure you are using a quality English black flint or the Chert flints sold by Rich Pierce a member of this forum.
if it still wont spark you either need to replace the frizzen...reharden with KASENIT
( I AM sure instructions can be found on this forum)
or re-sole YOUR FRIZZEN with hard metal.....

these remedy are listed in order of increasing difficulty.......

its all part of our Hobby!

 

[54ball]

How about posting some photos. There were many display only pistols made through the years. Yours may be one of those. A photo would help identify what you have and give a clue for advice in how to proceed.

 

[bpd303]

To test the hardness of the frizzen, take a file & draw it across the face where the flint strikes. If the file marks it try & re-hardening or replace the frizzen.

 

[bigted]

a good metal is not hard to harden. just take a acetylene torch and heat the piece to a dull red...then do a series of dunks in motor oil...even used oil will work ... make sure you have it in a ventilated area and use a long handled grip on the part as sometimes fire will happen the first couple times you dunk it in oil. when dunking just leave it in the oil for a 5 count and remove...a 5 count then back in for another 5 count...so on and so forth till the metal is cooled off again...makes it harder then woodpecker lips.

 

[Many Klatch]

Some of the Japanese made Tower pistols were only good for hanging on the wall. The springs were too soft, the working parts of the locks weren't hardened and the frizzens wouldn't spark. Give us a picture and we can tell you whether your gun has a better use as a boat anchor or a shooter.

Many Klatch

 

[matt denison]

a good metal is not hard to harden. just take a acetylene torch and heat the piece to a dull red...then do a series of dunks in motor oil...even used oil will work ... make sure you have it in a ventilated area and use a long handled grip on the part as sometimes fire will happen the first couple times you dunk it in oil. when dunking just leave it in the oil for a 5 count and remove...a 5 count then back in for another 5 count...so on and so forth till the metal is cooled off again...makes it harder then woodpecker lips.

There are so many things wrong in this post it is hard to know where to start to correct it.

How about the "dull red". Not near hot enough, not even close.

"A series of dunks?" What?! Quenching is quenching. You should never do it in steps.

There is plenty of helpful advice on this forum "how to" harden a frizzen. Do a search.

 

[LRB]

And, you should never use motor oil. It has poor quench abilities, and the vapor are quite toxic.

 

[Jmak]

I repaired a frizzen that I messed up heating it. I took the flintlock pistol to friendship, IN, gave it to a gunsmith and he got it sparking i less than five minutes. It cost me a few dollars and was worth every penny. I know this does not fix your problem but thought it worth telling. Go to Friendshipmthis Fall if you are able.

 

[M. De Land]

I had to mess with mine quite a bit after first sending it back to the maker to have a go at getting it to spark.
I wound up using Kasnite three times as per instructions, shortening the coil spring, heating and bending the cock a few degrees forward and finally making a new sear lever that held the cock back farther for a longer swing.
The combination of all this finally made a reliable sparker out of the gun.Mike D.

 

[Bill Bryan]

Before you do something drastic try flipping the flint over. You may need to invest in some new flints. I use a flattened lead ball but many folks like leather to help hold it in the jaws. Sometimes that's enough.

 

[Ricky Nelson]

You very well could be correct, this gun is a Dixie Gunworks pistol and I am sure it was built in some foriegn land. we have a local gun show this weekend it may find a new owner and I will look for a better built Pistol or even better a long rifle to start my flint lock career with. any recomendations on types or builders?