Rubbing magnesium on frizzen ?

[Loyalist Dave]

Bumped into a fellow flintlock hunter this season and as we talked he mentioned that he rubs his frizzen with magnesium with one of those fire starter sold at camping supply stores. He claims it gives him an increased shower of hot sparks for 5 shots or so and said it was just for extra "insurance" while hunting . Now I agree there is no substitute for a sharp flint and hard frizzen on a tuned lock, but it did peak my interest. I plan to try it out when I get some time, but wondered if anyone has heard of this or have tried it ? Just curious. -Thanks

So it's not "magnesium" in a fire starter at the camping store. Magnesium does not ignite from being struck.

It's likely a ferrocerium rod. Whether or not it works is a good question. I was unaware that rubbing it on a rough surface would deposit ferrocerium onto the surface that would remain in place. A flint edge could have enough of a scraping action to cause a spark.

Now IF you faced your frizzen with a layer of ferrocerium, and then placed a piece of metal with an edge in place of the flint, that would likely work, and rumor has it that the US Army musket drill team has had that done to their muskets....,

LD.

 

[Juice Jaws]

Do you believe that something that was invented centuries ago cannot be improved? We need to have an open mind!

It was improved, they are call modern firearms. No need to have a open mind just get a good lock and good sharp flints is all you need.

 

[Indy Durtdigger]

Magnesium does not spark.

I started to point that out a while ago but let it go. I've had to do Product Improvement Programs (recalls) on machines with magnesium castings years ago that involved carefully cutting/grinding the metal. Had there not been warnings and special items to do the job included in the kits I would have thought I was working on aluminum.

 

[Old Grunt]

I don't know if it works but can see the theory,I don't think the magnesium is sparking,my thoughts are,if frizzen is roughish and magnesium bar soft enough would some magnesium get caught in scrape marks then when metal sparks it also ignite the magnesium for a hoter spark ?? I don't know but to me the theory makes a little sense.. I'm kinda heavy in the wobbly pop tonigjt so my IQ might be touch lower then usual

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

I cannot for the life of me why this thread carries on...

 

[wganz]

It was improved, they are call modern firearms. No need to have a open mind just get a good lock and good sharp flints is all you need.

There is an improvement of the original 1853 percussion Sharps where the inventor was able to use unmentionable powder and 209 primers. He currently is getting hassle from the ATF bringing it to market.

So, not all improvements are in the realm of unmentionables.

 

[earlwb]

I had thought about using a fire starter stick on a flintlock. But I never worked out the details. It would probably work better with a wheel lock.

 

[kyron4]

Great input, never heard of it before and thought I'd get some solid info. here. Appreciate all the replies.

 

[kyron4]

Magnesium does not spark.

I think the premise , right or wrong, is the soft magnesium smeared on a rough frizzen will ignite from the flint and steel sparks and fall into the pan as white hot embers. That's the theory as I understand, again ,right or wrong, that's the theory.

 

[morehops52]

My guess is that the magnesium rub was doing more like cleaning the frizzen face than anything else.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

I started to point that out a while ago but let it go. I've had to do Product Improvement Programs (recalls) on machines with magnesium castings years ago that involved carefully cutting/grinding the metal. Had there not been warnings and special items to do the job included in the kits I would have thought I was working on aluminum.

Used to bust up old lawn boy mowers for the campfire

 

[wiscoaster]

My guess is that the magnesium rub was doing more like cleaning the frizzen face than anything else.

That actually makes some sense.

 

[waksupi]

I fear your friend suffers from a severe feces compaction. If you want something to really spark, face the frizzen with some titanium.

 

[longhunter 1776]

Why even do this?? it worked a hunderd plus years back a nice sharp flint,,no modern stuff why cant people be comtent to what there is,,,

 

[flintlock lover.]

Because… Science!
Yeah that’s the ticket,
Science!

I always thought using a good, sharp flint, a well tuned lock with correct geometry and a precisely hardened frizzen WAS science.

 

[MSW]

Bumped into a fellow flintlock hunter this season and as we talked he mentioned that he rubs his frizzen with magnesium with one of those fire starter sold at camping supply stores. He claims it gives him an increased shower of hot sparks for 5 shots or so and said it was just for extra "insurance" while hunting . Now I agree there is no substitute for a sharp flint and hard frizzen on a tuned lock, but it did peak my interest. I plan to try it out when I get some time, but wondered if anyone has heard of this or have tried it ? Just curious. -Thanks

this appears to be a solution in desperate search of a problem.

if doing this 'floats your stick,' well far be it from me to tell you not to do it, but it seems like a bunch of unnecessary steps.

 

[brushblind]

Maybe all the magnesium does is clean the frizzen face so the flint has a better contact.

 

[RAEDWALD]

I fear your friend suffers from a severe feces compaction. If you want something to really spark, face the frizzen with some titanium.

Tighten your seatbelt waksupi! I asked about titanium for soling a frizzen not so long ago and from the reaction you would think that I was advocating selling one’s firstborn for medical experiments. However, if you have any experience of soling a frizzen with titanium I, for one, would like to hear of it.

 

[waksupi]

Tighten your seatbelt waksupi! I asked about titanium for soling a frizzen not so long ago and from the reaction you would think that I was advocating selling one’s firstborn for medical experiments. However, if you have any experience of soling a frizzen with titanium I, for one, would like to hear of it.

I've never faced a frizzen with it, but do have a piece I have used for a striker. Pretty impressive.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Don't confuse titanium with ferrocerium which is what the socalled fire steel rods are made from.