Newbie needs flint advice.

[Btc624]

I just got my first flintlock, a TC FIRESTORM. I know its not really a true traditional flinter but do love the sights and size. Anyways i purchased my powder swiss 3f and null B but need some advice on what flints to get and what size. The gun came with a pack of tc premium agate flints and not really inpressed. I cleaned the frizzen with alcohol wipes and adjusted the flint to strike the frizzen 1/3 way down but doesnt spark like i think it should. I did order 7 black english flints from T. O.W.. Any other sources or advice would be appreciated.
PA-Bob

 

[Spikebuck]

need some advice on what flints to get and what size. I did order 7 black english flints from T. O.W..

Bob, the flint's width should be the same as your frizzen width. You can use slightly wider flints but if you do, make sure the excess sticks out the side away from your gun so nothing hits the barrel.

Approximate length would be about 3/16" shorter than from the front of the cock jaw screw to the frizzen face when at half cock. That would allow for the thickness of the leather wrap and about a 1/16" or so between the edge of the flint and frizzen face when installed. Shorter flints can just be adjusted forward. Make sure that the flint isn't hitting straight on, but on a slight downward angle on impact with the frizzen. Also, you can try bevel up or bevel down to see if that helps.

If english flints don't spark, and the setup is correct, then likely something else is wrong like a soft frizzen face. I had a used gun that initially had sparking problems and after rehardening the frizzen face and a lock tune-up which included replacing a weak mainspring, it now sparks perfectly.

 

[hanshi]

Welcome to the forum, pa-bob.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Spikebuck gave a good reply.
I note your unhappiness with the TC sawn flints. There have been many such reports. However, this should not be a broad brush indictment of all sawn flints. Some, like Gunter Stifters made in Germany are excellent. But, if your lock is good the black English should be just fine.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

The only sawn flints that I've tried have been the TC product. Wasn't impressed, even when in a TC lock.

I was told the "Amber French" flints were superior to the English flints...tried some, again, not impressed at all.

Put English flints into my .54 TC Hawken, with the older lock that has the "less than perfect geometry", and sparks very well indeed.

I use English on my India origin guns, on my American guns, on my Japanese and my Italian guns.

LD

 

[Twisted_1in66]

I just got my first flintlock, a TC FIRESTORM. I know its not really a true traditional flinter but do love the sights and size. Anyways i purchased my powder swiss 3f and null B but need some advice on what flints to get and what size. The gun came with a pack of tc premium agate flints and not really inpressed. I cleaned the frizzen with alcohol wipes and adjusted the flint to strike the frizzen 1/3 way down but doesnt spark like i think it should. I did order 7 black english flints from T. O.W.. Any other sources or advice would be appreciated.
PA-Bob

Welcome to the neighborhood PA-Bob!

One of the keys to getting your lock to spark well and get long life out of your flints is to get the flint to strike the frizzen at a 55° to 60° angle. This angle will scrape lots of sparks off the face of your frizzen and very slowly wear on your flint. Less of an angle than that and you will experience crushed edges because the flint is hitting to too straight on. Typically will spark for 2 or 3 shots and then you'll have to knap the edge of the flint to get it spark again. If you make the angle more than that, you'll find it will be slapping the frizzen instead of scraping it and that will typically break big chunks off the bottom of your flint. So 55° to 60° is key. At that angle the flints are pretty much self knapping and you can get anywhere from about 60 to 100 shots or more from them.

So move your flint forwards or move it backwards. Set it bevel up if needed or bevel down. Do what ever you need to get that 55° to 60° angle and you will save yourself lots of frustration and flints.

Twisted_1in66:thumbsup:
Dan

 

[faste350]

what part of PA, bob?

 

[AZbpBurner]

I agree with the TOW Tom Fuller English flints. I use them in everything from my Investarms rifles, to custom pistol, to an Indian musket, all with great results. I also tried some of the amber French flints - sexier looking, but all show and no go, since they DO spark just fine, they seem to be more brittle and chip more than wear.

 

[MSW]

i'll join the growing consensus (doesn't make us right - just means we agree):

the T/C cut agate flints are pretty much a waste of time ... never had a cut flint that worked at all well.

Black English flints (from ToTW) work great. the 50 to 60 degree angle advice is spot on, by the way ...

as regards french amber flints, I have them in one of my rifles, and although they look way cool (and cost way more) they don't spark particularly better or worse than the Black English. what you pay for is the good looks ... well, they're your hard earned, God- entrusted, overtaxed dollars, so if you want to spend extra for 'bling,' then by all means do so!

either way, make good smoke! :grin: