This one is some kind of "super-flint"

[roundball]

I shot a 50 shot range session this morning with a fresh 3/4” Tom Fuller black English flint...and I noticed it was a two colored flint with a couple patches of white throughout it instead of being 100% black all over...I figured it might fracture along the boundary lines of the two different types of rock after a few shots.

But, it was an incredibly hard flint making lots of sparks...so I decided to see just how it would perform compared to a "normal" looking flint and just started shooting...I went through the entire 50 shot session and never touched it, never repositioned it in the leather, never cleaned it, never knapped it, and the edge hardly has any indication of wear on it.

If it continues to work and wear like it has so far, I assume it’ll go right through another 50 shot session without any problems...this may be one of those flints that breaks 100 shots !!

 

[silverfox]

Sounds like a good one. I've had a couple that went over a 100 and just like you mentioned they looked like new after the first 50 or so. Wish there was a way to tell from looking which flints were going to do that. Seem always to be some that won't make it past 20 or so. Keep us posted on how far that one goes.
Fox :hatsoff:

 

[mmahlock]

:bow: The problem with flints like that is that sooner or latter they will wear out. Then you'll spend several years going though flints trying to find another on.

Good Luck. :rotf: :rotf: :hatsoff:

 

[xbowman]

Great Roundball! I just had a 3/4" Tom Fuller that was a very light gray go to 197 shots before I lost it. I did knapp it once. The lock is a Chambers Golden Age.

 

[pa woods roamer]

A fellow shooter ,used a .45 Cal. T/C Hawken, that had a flint that looked like a piece of Road Gravel! I swear he used it through a whole Summer of shooting! Not a sharp edge on it but alway threw a Spark!!

 

[Bob J]

Thanks for that info, Roundball! I had an offhand session at the range yesterday shooting charcoal briquets. Gave "Zilpha" the usual thorough cleaning and re-flinted with a Tom Fuller 3/4" square BEF (the .54 prefers the high-humped square ones). Knowing I might not get to the range before the upcoming deer hunt, I carefully selected a flint that is razor sharp, BUT, noticed it is two-toned black & gray. Almost passed it up for hunting thinking it might fracture where the colors meet. Due to your experience, I'll take my chances :grin:

 

[roundball]

"...I carefully selected a flint that is razor sharp, BUT, noticed it is two-toned black & gray. Almost passed it up for hunting thinking it might fracture where the colors meet. Due to your experience, I'll take my chances

:hmm: ...might be a stretch to make that decision based solely on a single experience like this...I guess you'll probably carry a spare flint or two with you anyway.

 

[Bob J]

Always have two or three spares in my bag :wink: