Pyrites Problems

[PathfinderNC]

Does anyone know how shaping Pyrites was done for Wheellocks in the early days?

 

[Rudyard]

I went to the hardware shop and bought some Dremel reinforced cut off wheels and a diamond cut off wheel , the reinforced blade cuts the pyrites just fine , no sparks . I have not tried the diamond blade ,it is just too hot in my workshop , it is about 90F outside . The pyrites blocks I have are not cubic , they have other cubes growing out the sides ,and aren't the easiest to cut . so I will get some more . Comparing the wheel lock wheel and a cigarette lighters wheel the cigarette lighter has a lot more small grooves .My WL has about 18 grooves , I wonder how many grooves other WL's on this forum have ? Maybe more and smaller will throw more sparks ? What do you think Rudyard ?

Dear Cutfinger & Canute. I used to think but I got such frightful headakes .!
Its bit a hot here too. But re the number of grouves The lock I used was copied in Cawnpore by local artisans but Ide took out a friends original C 1660 lock they made the parts piece meal in different shops so that no one group could copy the entire and in so doing make their own or offer complete locks of what was my & the shop owners developement .( Very devious crew in Indistan) So they had the same grouves as the original. I can no longer check the original as my friend died & it went to Bonhams & he lived on Orkney anyway, The lock performed well enough with the Gold faceted stuff but it just crumbled too readily . This was 1974 /75. I had met the shop owner on a stop off scrounge as I was heading back to UK overland in 1969 But got hung up in Kathmanu with blackwater fever for two months. .But returning to Roxuall I took trains to Lucknow & Cawnpore after gun stuff & found a shop sold percussion locks for the local trade most guns seemed to be MLs since they where more flexable as to load probably less liscencing hassles (Allways accompanied by a 'Teep" to the Magistrate or his staff .) I found it ammussing to watch these antics quite blatent .However I digress I saw potential to get flint locks made various sizes & types the "Flint Type locks " as they put it . So took out patterns later and commenced haveing powder flasks & locks made for me .Plus tracking down old BP doubles & falling blocks ect. I was not well capitalised like the Birmingham firms , But I even took out a double flint conversion to percussion with a view to have copies to offer as flint or side plug conversion cap locks .But it got impounded in Bombay Airport .No liscence & the useual paper work (The UK Firearms acts where a pamflet ,the Indian ones where a positive tome !) I still have them. I collected the double as I left via Bombay , I had a pile of goodies old flasks ect & in India they check baggage going out which wasn't normal at that time. Some Oik makes a fuss"These are the Antigues!" ect & hauls me off to see the head bloke' But ide met him coming in with the double & we got on fine his brother worked at Chesterfield Hospital as did my sister .So he hears the Oiks moaning on about my percieved transgressions and concludes "Its OK I know this man".So the Oik wanders off no doubt muttering "Rubbarb Rubbarb " in Hindi .
But net result Missed plane had to hang arround 24 hours in hot stinky airport till next days Air Kuwait No booze but good music .
Lightning can strike twice and the same problem accurred later with the same result but two double rifles going round & round at Heathrow terminal ( Maybe Gatwick one of them). But the customs bloke notes my slightly modified account of values and concludes. " By our reckoning You owe us XX Pounds" The Rifles being antigue didnt have duty . I said " Well Iv'e only got 10$ US so youle have to hang onto them & Ile come down in a couple of days to pay you ". " I see" he says ".Don't come it too often , Bugger off". So I did . Anyway that might help a bit . If your able to pop over please do .
Regards Rudyard
PS Only four grouves in any wheel Iv'e seen

 

[Rudyard]

Does anyone know how shaping Pyrites was done for Wheellocks in the early days?

Short answer cant say we are trying to pin down the Pyrites problem .Id e be delighted to know but we seem to be getting there . Regards Rudyard Thank you for compliments on Cutfingers rifle Rudyard

 

[DuncNZ]

I ordered 100 grams more of the gold pyrites from China yesterday and will report back when it arrives .

 

[DuncNZ]

Does anyone know how shaping Pyrites was done for Wheellocks in the early days?

Probably by peasants with cold chisels and hammers .

 

[DuncNZ]

My order if 300 grams of pyrites has just arrived from China , in 19 days . That is quick service . As you can see these are big chunks averaging just under 1 oz each , the next step is to cut one to size with the Dremel diamond blade , Then report back

 

[Rudyard]

Absolutley' Cool bananas ' lets see what transpires & bought some thing similar in a flea market in Maine but hanged if I can find where I put them ,Currently stuggling with M lock Petronel , must have been little stocky blokes ,Or wore a steel breast plates . The one in Blackmore is 25' brl mines 30" but looks right by the photo . proportionatly .Ive heard theive invented Breach loaders ! . Don't think they will catch on.
Cheers Me '


PS
Reading over its supprizeing nobody commented on my episle on Indian doings I thought it ammuseing but then Ime addmitedly a bit biased .

Regards Again Rudyard