kingsax26
45 Cal.
Went to the range today ....and had to replace my flint ...i only had about 20 shots through it...is that normal? also this is what my new flint looked like after 5 shots......i feel like somehting isnt right ....any ideas?
Worn Out Flint
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The flint in my Hawken looks far worse than that. Why did you replace your flint?
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Where does the flint strike the frizzen?
I average about sixty shots per flint. I flip them, then nibble the edge as necessary.
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I've got about 150 shots on the flint that came with my Hawken kit. I haven't flipped it and only had to knap the edge twice.Stumpkiller said:
The short flint life your seeing is probably due to the angle between the flint and frizzen when it strikes it.
If the flint is hitting "almost head on" it will end up bashing itself into the frizzen.
If the flint is hitting with a glancing blow it will slice off some slivers of steel without taking the full impact of the blow.
Ideally, the angle between the flint and the frizzen should be about 60 degrees.
If you haven't tried changing the bevel on the flint from up to down (or visa versa) you can try that. It sometimes helps because the edge of the flint will be hitting the frizzen at a different place at a slightly different angle.
Changing the thickness of the flint wrap under the bottom of the flint will also sometimes help to extend the life of the flint.
When people have this problem with their flints they often blame the strength of the mainspring but this is seldom the reason.
There are many flintlocks with very powerful mainsprings that still have long flint lives.
Another thing that is often blamed is the feather spring that operates against the cam on the bottom of the frizzen.
These are often much stronger than they need to be and the heavy force needed to move the frizzen to the open position can contribute to bashing the edge of the flint.
The feather spring has two jobs to do.
1. To keep the pan closed before the gun is fired.
2. To keep the frizzen from bouncing from a fully opened position back to a partially closed position (usually ending up setting on top of the cock jaw). Actually, this second job isn't terribly important if the gun fires reliably.
With this in mind, sometimes reducing the height of the cam that pushes down on the feather spring can help extend the flints life.
Don't overdo it though. A little too much material removal and you will have to buy another frizzen.
A binding or unlubricated frizzen pivot can also cause these problems and as this is the easy one to find and fix it should be the first thing to look at.
If the flint is hitting "almost head on" it will end up bashing itself into the frizzen.
If the flint is hitting with a glancing blow it will slice off some slivers of steel without taking the full impact of the blow.
Ideally, the angle between the flint and the frizzen should be about 60 degrees.
If you haven't tried changing the bevel on the flint from up to down (or visa versa) you can try that. It sometimes helps because the edge of the flint will be hitting the frizzen at a different place at a slightly different angle.
Changing the thickness of the flint wrap under the bottom of the flint will also sometimes help to extend the life of the flint.
When people have this problem with their flints they often blame the strength of the mainspring but this is seldom the reason.
There are many flintlocks with very powerful mainsprings that still have long flint lives.
Another thing that is often blamed is the feather spring that operates against the cam on the bottom of the frizzen.
These are often much stronger than they need to be and the heavy force needed to move the frizzen to the open position can contribute to bashing the edge of the flint.
The feather spring has two jobs to do.
1. To keep the pan closed before the gun is fired.
2. To keep the frizzen from bouncing from a fully opened position back to a partially closed position (usually ending up setting on top of the cock jaw). Actually, this second job isn't terribly important if the gun fires reliably.
With this in mind, sometimes reducing the height of the cam that pushes down on the feather spring can help extend the flints life.
Don't overdo it though. A little too much material removal and you will have to buy another frizzen.
A binding or unlubricated frizzen pivot can also cause these problems and as this is the easy one to find and fix it should be the first thing to look at.
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i think your instincts are right - your flint shouldn't look that beat up after only five shots (in my opinion). I'd follow Zonie's advice and try turning the flint upside down, or adjusting the thickness of the flintwrap, or both, to adjust the angle of strike.
good luck with your journey to rockbanging coolness!
(just one guy's free opinion... often seen as worth the price)
good luck with your journey to rockbanging coolness!
(just one guy's free opinion... often seen as worth the price)
Mzzlldrinpa
32 Cal.
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Curious. Does this happen with every flint or just on occasion. Reason for asking is that I once got a batch of flints that were junk. Had some break in half after a couple shots. I thought it was just me but, a couple guys I shoot with had some that we all bought together and they were junk also. Just a thought, it may be the flint.
I get very good service from Tom Fuller's English flints from TOW...
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/180/1/FLINTS
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ohio ramrod
75 Cal.
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Is this something new from a rifle you have been using, or a new rifle? I have found the frizzen springs on my pedroseli's to be far heavier than needed. When the spring was sanded down thinner the flints stoped chipping out and lasted much , much , longer and gave better sparks. :idunno: :idunno:
MzzlldrinPA said:
Keep in mind they are a natural product and characteristics can vary.
I don't know for a fact, but suspect, that the black flints sold by U.S. vendors all come from Tom Fuller in England.
I'm sure there can be bad batches but most flint failures are due to lock problems.
hanshi
Cannon
The edge of your flint doesn't look that bad, and if it still sparks well then there's no problem. Having said that, you should be getting at least a couple dozen shots from each flint and at least twice that with knapping. If your flint is all beat up after 5 shots it's because it's either a bad flint, improperly installed or a trouble with the lock.
I remember one flint that gave me only 5 shots and would not even spark after that. Then there's been the rare flint that broke, chipped badly or shattered in my locks. If all your flints give only brief service then look to the lock. If it's only an occasional "misfunction" it's the flints fault.
I remember one flint that gave me only 5 shots and would not even spark after that. Then there's been the rare flint that broke, chipped badly or shattered in my locks. If all your flints give only brief service then look to the lock. If it's only an occasional "misfunction" it's the flints fault.
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Zonie, I agree on all counts...one thing I would add is something I noticed in slow motion video of flintlocks being fired was one that had a weak spring as stated...this lock would fire normal, but the slow motion showed the frizzen kicking back and hitting the flint each time! :v
Larry Pletcher
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I have a slow motion video of Chambers round face lock fired with NO frizzen. The lock fired perfectly. The frizzen rebounded once stopping well above the flint. Pretty much all one could ask. When Jim saw the video he remarked with tongue in cheek, "I spent hours tuning that lock get it to do that."
Regards,
Pletch
Regards,
Pletch
No frizzen? Did you mean no frizzen spring?
Larry Pletcher
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Ps My mistake. It would be hard to have a frizzen return if the frizzen wasn't there.Pletch said:
Mzzlldrinpa
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Yeah I agree that not all flint will be equal. I got them from TOTW. Not a big deal, I used em up and placed another order from TOTW. The next order I got was just fine. Just stating that if this is something that just started happening then it may be something to consider.
Don't get too hung up on it I have had flints on the one gun last 80 shots and the next flint shatter on the first shot , keep at it take in all the advice and you will soon sus it out to make them last but if one doesn't don't panic .
