Recommended first flintlock?

[EC121]

Hold out for a swamped barrel. They balance better. Not so muzzle heavy. As the local furniture store ads says: "If you buy nice, you don't buy twice."

 

[sawyer04]

The Traditions flintlock itself also leaves a bit to be desired when it comes to quality

.

The traditions flintlock will spark, but the quality of build is a little shoddy. Almost like the ham locks of old. It is worth a look for a budding flinter on a budget. I would case harden or have the frizzen hardened. The cheap build of a traditions flint lock: also good for the beginning smithy to learn the trade and not ruin that much. Not that bad of a shooter either.

 

[Sidney Smith]

My only flintlock is a Traditions. It works (got lucky?). Have not had to tweak anything. I now have learned how to knapp (and am learning to actually do it LOL). That will help as mine needed a new flint about every 7-8 shots. I was able to hold my own in a 90 yd shoot out at clay pigeons against my son and his dead-on .22. Once in awhile a good (decent) one gets out. I do agree though, double yer cost and quadruple yer experience.

You sure you got a good rifle? If you nred to replace the flint after 7 or 8 shots then either your F lints or the lock is having issues.

My grandsons Traditions lock beats up F lints as well. He usually gets about 10 shots then has to replace the flint. There is hardly any room between the cock and frizzen to properly align even the correct size flints. The geometry of the lock is such that although it works leaves some to be desired.

 

[azmntman]

Have yet to go beyond 55 degree angle thing, I can knapp em and keep shooting fine, before I joined here and learned about knapping I would toss em. For the $129.00 or whatever I paid it's been a decent rifle.

 

[45man]

Hard question. I built all my own guns and will never sell any but I have built for others that brought parts and wood. It was very hard to ship them off. A part of you goes into every one. Money does not count and will never equal the love put into a build.
My brother in law came once and only once to my house with a Lyman kit, he is in Ohio and I am in WV. Of course he wanted carving and engraved brass. Part of me left with it. He took it to the Log Cabin to show and they knew me at once.
You might find one to buy but the gun was not built by the seller.
A ML has a soul.
Bear with me, my wife and then my daughter will get all of my guns. What happens after they go is scary. Like my dogs, if they do not go to heaven I am staying here. I will haunt every gun mistreated. I will spend eternity to find my little dogs.

 

[Dibbuk]

This is just my opinion:

At will be difficult to find a good flintlock under $1000. They CAN be found, but they are rare, and take time to find. I would like to suggest that you check out Jim Kibler's kits. https://kiblerslongrifles.com

The components are top quality, and you can actually assemble one in a weekend, if you don't get interrupted. There is even a set of Youtubes demonstrating every step of construction. I would highly recommend one of his kits.

 

[Travler]

I second the Kibler statement. I am building one now. For me it is taking much longer than a weekend. I am going slow but loving the build. I am thinking it will be a top shelf gun when i am done. Not because i am doing it. Great quality kit. I am trying not to screw it up....

 

[45man]

I second the Kibler statement. I am building one now. For me it is taking much longer than a weekend. I am going slow but loving the build. I am thinking it will be a top shelf gun when i am done. Not because i am doing it. Great quality kit. I am trying not to screw it up....

Good for you. It can take 6 months or more. I could shape a bolt gun stock in a day but then to checker was another few days. A smoothbore .22 I got from my BRIL. No stock and broken firing pin. I made the stock in one night and it was my first checkering job. But a ML with carving took many drawings on paper to fit. I left wood 1/8" proud for carving. Kits are tough as wood is close to finish.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I want to add a flintlock to my collection but start off with something comparable (in price). Can anyone recommend a good flintlock to start with that won't break the bank?

IF you like the plains style rifle, a Lyman rifle in flintlock is a very good choice.
IF you want a "longrifle" then the Pedersoli Frontier, in .54 is a very good choice.
IF you want a smooth bore, tradegun, then the Pedersoli Trade Musket, in kit form, is a very good choice.
IF you want to build it yourself, the Kibler longrifle kits, available in various degrees of having been finished, are a very good choice.

LD

 

[Travler]

Good for you. It can take 6 months or more. I could shape a bolt gun stock in a day but then to checker was another few days. A smoothbore .22 I got from my BRIL. No stock and broken firing pin. I made the stock in one night and it was my first checkering job. But a ML with carving took many drawings on paper to fit. I left wood 1/8" proud for carving. Kits are tough as wood is close to finish.

Very nice work 45man. I am not near that skil level. I do admire that.

 

[45man]

Thank you. I took old triangle files and with a Moto Tool I made "V" chisels. Darn things never get dull. They cut clean without bunching wood. I never bought one that worked.

 

[Armando]

Man I got a lot to research. Thanks guys! Hoping I can find a used one that someone has already tinkered with.

Also, I was looking at Tennessee Valley muzzleloading. They have some pretty nice kits for which seems like reasonable prices.