Will pyrites work in a flintlock?

[TNHillbilly]

Looks like we've kicked this horse around awhile sure is helpful to have the right stuff together when you put so much work in something. I've found that with your pyrites, after about three strikes, the flintlock quit sparking. Wiped the frizzen off with my thumb, and off she went again (like a black residue)...maybe it was dirty to start with. While other factors may be at work, such as the degree of hardness each wheel is finished to. I would certainly recommend starting with the 'dollar' pyrite.

 

[Jasseji]

i suppose you guys are talking about the clamshell shaped stone ?

where do you get those "dollar pyrites" ?

i was able to get only the bricks here in Europe and they are a pain for me to cut and then dont work well even in a Wheelie

Switching to Matchlocks ffs - they dont give me such a pain in the rear piece when trying to fire

 

[Tinker2]

where do you get those "dollar pyrites" ?

i was able to get only the bricks here in Europe and they are a pain for me to cut and then dont work well even in a Wheelie

Jasseji

In my studying, in Europe, the best pyrite came from Spain in the dark ages.
I don’t have any reference for that, it was a long time ago that I did that research. It came out of some of the coal mines in Spain.
Again, I have no reference I can quote.


The best pyrite for wheellocks that I have found in the USA comes from coal mines also.

References:

ME :wink:




Tinker2

 

[Teleoceras]

Tinker2:

Yes, that’s what has worked for me the best and that’s is what I sent you and Teleoceras.

Some of the types of pyrites that I tried.

For me, they all worked [sparked] well.

Close up of the dollar type of pyrites.

It was the easiest one to cut into the shapes I wanted. They all sparked for me. The pyrites in the top picture on the far left were the most crumbly of them, but they did not shatter, they just did not last as long.


A earlier post about pyrite. http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/231922/post/693581/hl//fromsearch/1/



Tinker2

Believe me, those three pieces of pyrite are treated like real gold to me! Far and away, the dollar type of pyrite made shooting Sparky enjoyable again.

FYI, Leonard Day was asking me about pyrites a few months ago and I told him about the ones you sent me. I didn't know that they came from a coal mine though. I seriously want to get my paws on a few more of those pieces. :bow:

Slowmatch Forever!
Teleoceras