Simple question from a simple person

[Russ T Frizzen]

Ditto, this is my experience precisely. Finding the happy medium is the answer.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Yep, Digging in, or gouging, usually occurs when the flint hits the frizzen too high, and at a very shallow angle. If it hits too low, the usual result is that the frizzen doesn't open. You want the flint to scrape, or "slice " steel from the face of the frizzen, not chip it out by gouging or digging into the face. A 60 Degree Angle of Impact has proven to be an optimum angle for the flint edge to strike the frizzen.

This has to do with using the flint's molecular structure, and its natural angles of fracture to cut the steel, and writing about Colloidal fractures is more than BORING- so I won't. If you REALLY want this information, PT me.

 

[hanshi]

The flint should be as close to the frizzen at half cock as possible without acually touching it. And if it does touch it is still okay as long as the frizzen closes completely. A slight gap is preferable, though. As the flint wears it can be moved forward or flipped over.

The traditional position for knapped flints is bevel up. I, like others who posted, found bevel down often resulted in a gouged frizzen. With bevel up and striking 1/3 to 1/2 the way down the frizzen, the flint scrapes nicely and the frizzen face stays relatively nice and smooth. With bevel up an English type flint will often self knapp and stay sharp longer. Some flints are kinda clunky and resemble a, well, ROCK! These are handled as must be. This is my take on the subject. :v

 

[Tom Compton]

Both could be right depending on the individual lock geometry. Too high or too low can dig in.

TC

 

[roundball]

:hmm: ...I never even hinted at it being right or wrong...I simply posted my experiences

 

[Tom Compton]

Me, too. Just trying to keep the feller who asked for information from being confused by different results reported on the forum.

 

[kherring]

What I meant to say was the flint strikes about 2/3 up the frizzen. This starts to tip it over and shaves off sparks. I have observed that if the flint strikes too low it slams into the frizzen and gouges it without snapping it open. Just my experience.

 

[paulvallandigham]

You are correct. I have seen low striking flints that will not open the frizzen, and they do gouge the face of the frizzen when it doesn't open. Most of those guns require a replacement cock that is longer( taller). I see it most on the foreign imports.