Missouri Chert Flint verses English Flint. Which is more reliable ?

[CyrusP]

Another great video! Thanks! I’m recently bit by the smoothbore bug and loving it!

 

[windini]

Thanks! Another great video, chert and to the point!

I'm compelled to mention BPMS's extraordinary attention to detail in all, but especially this, video.

He painstakingly color-matched his fingernails to the English and MO flints just so there'd be no confusion.

Folks, this here is a Very Professional Unpaid Amateur Black Powder Maniac Shooter.

 

[deerstalkert]

Might want to consider next time to not do the test with your powder horn strapped to your body right next to the flash.

Fleener

even I who has been known to singe all the hair off my forearms with spilled powder on my bench top cringed a bit watching that flash so close to the horn. proves Jesus does love you!

 

[WonkyEye]

I liked your video, thanks for sharing. It's good timing too, a guy who does knapping just sent me 2 dozen variety of chert and novaculite to try out. He just dropped them in the mail today.
I think I'm going to do slow motion video of each sparking, maybe I'll create my first ever YouTube

 

[Mark E. Prickett]

I liked your video, thanks for sharing. It's good timing too, a guy who does knapping just sent me 2 dozen variety of chert and novaculite to try out. He just dropped them in the mail today.
I think I'm going to do slow motion video of each sparking, maybe I'll create my first ever YouTube

Please do.

 

[flatcreek]

Another great video Mark. I'm shore if that powder horn does go off the video will go viral to help pay the bills.

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

even I who has been known to singe all the hair off my forearms with spilled powder on my bench top cringed a bit watching that flash so close to the horn. proves Jesus does love you!

Amen brother...Jesus does love me ( and you too ).......

 

[sportster73hp]

I have been using english flint from Track of the wolf. They are called hand knapped but look like a machine ground edge on one side. Normally good for 20 shots or more before needing touched up. 40 to 50 shots per stone is normal with Kibler smr.

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Thank you Mark for another great video, I liked the finger nail bit too! LOL

 

[Kansas Jake]

I pick up chert occasionally here in Kansas. I pay more attention to the quality of the stone than to the color. It varies from dark gray to almost ivory. I look for stuff that is dense and smooth/slick looking. I don’t know how to better describe it. If it is a broken piece I check for good sharp edges. Much of it will have a limestone covering on part of the piece. I rarely find a large nodule.

 

[ZUG]

I have a small "stash" of Rich Pierce chert flints from Rich when he was making them. I found them to be good sparkers in most of my locks.

​

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

Thanks! Another great video, chert and to the point!

I'm compelled to mention BPMS's extraordinary attention to detail in all, but especially this, video.

He painstakingly color-matched his fingernails to the English and MO flints just so there'd be no confusion.
View attachment 306712

Folks, this here is a Very Professional Unpaid Amateur Black Powder Maniac Shooter.

That is what happens when a lock "bites" you during cleaning...OUCH! LOL

 

[kipcarter]

Amen brother...Jesus does love me ( and you too ).......

I read all the responses before I watched the video and with that powder horn position I believe that Jesus really does love you!!!

 

[SDSmlf]

That is what happens when a lock "bites" you during cleaning...OUCH! LOL

I thought you did that so you would know which trigger finger to use for left and right hand shooting without getting confused.

 

[pilot]

Where in Missouri is that chert found? I'm on the west side and haven't found any yet.

I watched the video yesterday and enjoyed it.

 

[Nwtradegunner]

That reminds of something I had heard years ago. A guy was visiting a friend who was living off grid somewhere in Nothern California. I guess he noticed the material that his friend was using for a rock in his flintlock. Upon questioning on how they sparked and then on what size was the original rock that his so called flints came from. His friend let him have some of the chards that were left from knapping these “flints.” When the fellow got home; he did some research. Estimating by the characteristics and the size of the original piece; that chunk of “Jasper” untouched would have been worth something like 10’s of thousands of dollars He never went back to tell his friend what it was worth!

 

[smoothshooter]

Great video, I bet the barrel was filthy after firing 50 "blanks".

So where does one get Missouri Chert ? Is it available pre knapped in standard sizes or does one have to get raw rock and flake his own ?

I live in SW Missouri and white chert rocks are all around. In some places they are a real nuisance. I have found several fist-sized chunks poking up through the dirt in my yard.
I have busted out useable gunflints/spalls to use in my guns and they work very well.
Have not worked at it enough to get really good at it. White chert with a sharp edge really sparks when struck with a properly hardened striker when lighting a fire.

 

[BillinOregon]

I found and collected a lot of jasper when I lived in Oregon -- green, red and yellow -- and I am here to tell you that it is tough stuff and virtually impossible to knap without heat treating.

 

[ZUG]

My "stash" of flints

 

[Coldiron]

That reminds of something I had heard years ago. A guy was visiting a friend who was living off grid somewhere in Nothern California. I guess he noticed the material that his friend was using for a rock in his flintlock. Upon questioning on how they sparked and then on what size was the original rock that his so called flints came from. His friend let him have some of the chards that were left from knapping these “flints.” When the fellow got home; he did some research. Estimating by the characteristics and the size of the original piece; that chunk of “Jasper” untouched would have been worth something like 10’s of thousands of dollars He never went back to tell his friend what it was worth!

I've got lots of jasper I've picked up over the years from several states. I may have to try knapping one to make a flint out of. I made one out of MO chert a while ago and it worked fine but my knapping skills need to be improved a lot. It took a lot of time to make.