No spark

[Walt For 2A]

Hello again.

I can’t seem to produce any spark on my flintlock pistol. It’s a Japanese Light Dragoon .67 caliber. I just picked up some three-quarter inch English flints. I have tried it with a bevel up and the bevel down. I may have read somewhere about these Japanese frizzens not being hardened. Maybe I don’t have the right size flint? Perhaps my spring is worn out? i have attached pics in hopes it might be helpful. I think you kindly in advance

 

[deerstalkert]

first thing you need to do is close the gap between the bolster and the barrel.
it really looks like someone went after the frizzen with a pick axe, it may start sparking if you dry fire it a bunch and clean it .

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Hello again.

I can’t seem to produce any spark on my flintlock pistol. It’s a Japanese Light Dragoon .67 caliber. I just picked up some three-quarter inch English flints. I have tried it with a bevel up and the bevel down. I may have read somewhere about these Japanese frizzens not being hardened. Maybe I don’t have the right size flint? Perhaps my spring is worn out? i have attached pics in hopes it might be helpful. I think you kindly in advanc

Hello again.

I can’t seem to produce any spark on my flintlock pistol. It’s a Japanese Light Dragoon .67 caliber. I just picked up some three-quarter inch English flints. I have tried it with a bevel up and the bevel down. I may have read somewhere about these Japanese frizzens not being hardened. Maybe I don’t have the right size flint? Perhaps my spring is worn out? i have attached pics in hopes it might be helpful. I think you kindly in advanceView attachment 100369

Your frizzen is most likely too soft. Take a sharp file and run it at the lower part of the fizzen where the flint never hits. Go easy at first, it the file is cutting, it is too soft. The file should be sliding over the frizzen, not cutting. You also have a dangerous situation with your lock/barrel fit. Prime will go behind the lock and when ever you do get it to spark the powder behind the lock will raise a big issue. That frizzen can be case hardened if is too soft.
Larry

 

[Black Powder Guy]

Phil Coffins does case hardening. He is a member here. You can PM him.

 

[BEP]

Almost certainly a soft frizzen. When Dixie sold these back in the 60's and 70's they offered to harden the frizzens for an additional fee. When a seller offers a service to fix a known problem, well, there's often a problem.

 

[Walt For 2A]

The answer is most definitely a soft frizzen. Just this morning my dad gave me another reproduction flintlock and I put his frizzen on my pistol. Now I have spark. This will give me a chance to learn how to harden the other frizzen. Thank you all.

 

[Walt For 2A]

So an update. Just hardened the frizzen with Track’s True Spark. All is good!!!

 

[Dale Lilly]

but don't forget to close that gap. Dale

 

[Walt For 2A]

but don't forget to close that gap. Dale

Yes sir. Already did

 

[Walt For 2A]

Pretty!!

 

[Ricochet]

Id say you fixed it!