What to use on flints?

[stronics]

What do you use to hold the flint, lead or rawhide? I was at a gun show and a very nice gentleman says for best ignition to use lead.
Thanks,
David

 

[BullRunBear]

I've seen both used and tried both lead and leather. Always had better results with leather. I'm curious what others will say.

Jeff

 

[FishDFly]

This one of the most posted topics and really has been beat to death, it is leather.

Kind of like which is better, pure lead for making balls as recommended by the makers of molds or wheel weights as recommended by the frugal folks.

Let the fight begin.

 

[Claude Mathis]

Here's a few of the many threads on this topic.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/283185/ http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/281930 http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/268223 http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/238390

 

[Many Klatch]

I can just summarize my experience with flint wraps. I lost a shooting match because the flint deformed and the flint fell out. Flint will continue to deform so you must keep checking. Some knowledgeable gunmakers do not recommend using lead because it can cause damage to the lock mechanism.

 

[tom deinek]

Reynolds Wrap is an adequate field expedient alternative.

 

[Grenadier1758]

You would have to fold over several thicknesses of aluminum foil to get enough thickness to properly hold the flint.

My opinion is to stick with leather.

 

[Dphar]

What do you use to hold the flint, lead or rawhide? I was at a gun show and a very nice gentleman says for best ignition to use lead.
Thanks,
David

Leather is the best choice. Buckskin is too thin.
A medium weight cowhide or Elk will work as will a heavy brain tan.
Lead is too heavy, can slow lock time and can put excessive loads on the cock when it stops at the end of its travel. It also requires more clamping force to hold the flint.

Dan

 

[Tom Compton]

In 40 years I've only known 3-4 people using lead to hold their flints other than reenactors with Brown Bess'.

Leather from old boots works well.

TC

 

[19 16 6]

A lot of points of view either way throughout these old threads.
All of my other striking & scraping tools are solid mounted blades to handle.
Why would Pedersoli supply a rifle with a flint mounted in lead & recommend to use lead ?
Is this a historical argument as old as the flintlock itself ?
The OLD rifles in the museums, what do they have wrapped on the flint ? Are there old writings on this subject ? Did lewis Wetzel & Davy Crocket debate this point ?
Is this really only a Ford V Chev deal, with the reality being that they will both get you there ?
O.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Why would Pedersoli supply a rifle with a flint mounted in lead & recommend to use lead ?

This is one of the instances that Pedersoli uses historical data to use a lead wrapped flint in their military muskets. With a large military lock, the extra weight provided by the lead wrap was believed to add to the striking force of the hammer on the frizzen for more sparks.

Is this a historical argument as old as the flintlock itself ?

Not an argument really, but an observation. In the military application a lead ball would be available to be flattened and provide a wrap for the flint. Leather might be more difficult to come by.

The OLD rifles in the museums, what do they have wrapped on the flint ?

Some will have lead and some will have leather. I am not sure how the flints are wrapped in armories such as Colonial Williamsburg or the London Armory.

Are there old writings on this subject ?

Not as much as one would like.

Did Lewis Wetzel & Davy Crocket debate this point ?

I doubt it. Most likely they would have used leather as it was readily available and easy to cut for the flint. Also the leather wrap doesn't have to be tightened as much as a lead wrap or require frequent retightening.

Is this really only a Ford V Chev deal, with the reality being that they will both get you there ?

Both wraps will hold a flint securely enough to provide a shower of sparks to the pan. For my use, in both a military and civilian interpretation, I prefer leather. Leather is used by all the other members of the unit. Those that did use lead went back to leather when the flint needed to be replaced.

 

[Larry Pletcher]

This has been posted before. I photographed both and tried to see if I could see difference in spark production:

lead vs leather pics

Regards,
Pletch