Problem with Pedersoli Flintlock

[vulture]

I own one of Pedersoli's American Jaeger flintlocks and am having problems with ignition. As I have studied the design of the cock it would seem to me that the flint is hitting the frizzen at too straight an angle, it is "bashing" into the frizzen knocking it forward too soon and not producing a good shower of sparks. The angle also points the flint forward of the pan in the fired position instead of centering on the pan. I figure I have two avenues to try and solve the problem, heat and bend the cock angle or try and find a replacement lock that could be fitted to the stock. The first solution seeming to be the simpler and better choice, but I am not good at re-hardening and tempering the cock once I get it bent, nor am I confident in my ability to get the bend right once I get it heated up and soft enough to bend, might actually make the problem worse. If I don't fix it then the lock will continue to beat the flints down in no time, and they now have to be so short as to allow for very little re-napping. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[ol vern]

try another flint once in a while you will get a bad one.

try a shorter flint

before you start bending the cock try changing the angle of the flint in the jaws of the cock, wedge a small twig or tooth pick
under flint .

 

[varsity07840]

You do not need to reharden the cock as it isn’t hardened to begin with. Try a shorter flint first or flip th bevel on the on you’re using now. If still no good, bend it.

 

[Black Hand]

Try turning the flint upside-down, i.e bevel down instead of bevel up.

The cock isn't hardened and could be bent cold GENTLY.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I have found that many pedersoli flintlocks benefit from lightening the frizzen spring.Mine would litterly eat flints until i lightened the frizzen spring now it works much better with a lot longer flint life. :idunno: :idunno:

 

[F.G. Ford]

As mentioned. Have tried turning your flint upside down ( bevel up or bevel down) that alone changes the strike point of the flint.
As also mentioned, shorter flint. An 1/8" shorter flint lowers the strike point almost a 1/2"
Good luck on your journey.
Fred

 

[MSW]

I agree ... don't try tinkering with the lock geometry until you have made every reasonable effort to adjust the flint in the jaws.

Good luck with your project - you patience will be rewarded!

 

[Grenadier1758]

If the flint is bashing directly on the frizzen, a simple adjustment can be made with a piece of leather thong under the flint near the jaw screw. This will lift the rear of the flint and lower the striking edge at the frizzen. A wooden match stick will also work to change the geometry. I use the leather thong trimmed to the width of the flint to adjust the flint in my L&R lock.

 

[vulture]

Thank you for all the help, I have shortened several of my shorter flints and will give them a try next time I get to shoot, working on my motorcycle right now, too many hobbies, or so my wife tells me.

 

[stubshaft]

My wife used to say the same thing until I reminded her that I can always use the money in a strip bar. :surrender: