Knapping A Sharp Edge On A Flint To Make Fire.

[Wad12br]

Better to use a Bronze or Brass tool for knapping the flint in the jaws of the cock , otherwise a stray spark from your knapping , could set off the powder charge through the touch hole .Flintlock guns are techy at the best of times , also brass alloys because they are that much softer than the flint , can make a sharper point quicker , try to keep the frizzen away from the pan during these operations.Or use a Copper pin to block the touch hole if steel is only avialible at the time of knapping.

[historicaltrekking]

@Wad12br Very good advice, thank you for your input. Much appreciated. I was of course working on an unloaded gun, but your point is well taken. I don't knap with a loaded gun, I just replace the flint with a new one, I should have made that clear.

Regards, Keith.

[Wad12br]

@historicaltrekking Well the only problems I had with non-sparking was with loaded weapons , and you could imagine the swearing if in competition.

[badger4590]

Need to be more aware of where camera is pointing and field of view. Also,need to use correct terms. Part that the flint hits for rifle ignition is the frizzen, the part you show to knap flint and call the hammer.

[historicaltrekking]

@badger4590 Well actually Badger I realise this about the camera, but I was working alone. Sorry to say you are wrong about the parts of the lock, this is a flintlock, not a percussion. You are using modern terminology. The correct name for what you call a frizzen is "hammer" It retains this name from the earlier type lock where the steel was shaped a little like a workshop hammer. The part that secures the flint is the cock.

Regards.

[entmage]

I've seen all sorts of ways to do that.

I have one of those 3 in 1 tools that I use on the flint.

[MTNMANTIM]

more great info. ! thank you

Tim

[historicaltrekking]

@MTNMANTIM Thank you Tim, & you are most welcome.

Keith.

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Can you use any type of steel as a frizzen or firestarter or does it have to be some type of mild steel?

[historicaltrekking]

@TheFirearmEnthusiast The steal must have a high carbon content, such as a metal file. Old files have been & are still used to make fire steels. You can make a fire steel by heating a piece of broken file cherry red & let it cool slowly. Once cool it will be softer & you can file the edges smooth (file off the teeth). Then re-heat to cherry red & quench in water. Then you should be able to strike sparks from the steel with a sharp edged flint/quartz/agate/chert etc

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

@historicaltrekking Cool, thanks for the info.

[historicaltrekking]

@TheFirearmEnthusiast You are most welcome.

Regards. A Woodsrunner's Diary. (blog).

[historicaltrekking]

Yes Tom, you can do this with any soliceous rock. The only problem you may encounter with quartz is, that it often tends to have fracture lines all through it. But yes you can do it with quartz.

Keep your eyes open for agate too, I have found that it is often found in the same areas as quartz. I too have mostly quartz where I am.

Regards.

A Woodsrunner's Diary.

[TomsBackwoods]

Can I do this to get a good edge on Quartz aswell? we don't have much flint around here.

[historicaltrekking]

@TomsBackwoods Not sure if I have answered this or not, but just in case! Yes you can, but some quartz can be very fractured making it harder to knap a straight edge. However, when it fractures it tends to leave a sharp edge anyway.

[whatzthis64]

I agree with you,but i think its also about money, I enjoy your videos very much,cant wait for new ones.Thanks for repling. Thanks again Brian.

[whatzthis64]

Thank you for answering my question, I did not know. I shoot a inline muzzle loader,54 cal 435 gr lead sabot for deer. Ive seen the style i think you show in your vids at fort massac encampment ,each year. Thanks again Brian.

[historicaltrekking]

@whatzthis64 You are very welcome Brian. I don't think the powers that be imagined that someone would invent an inline muzzle-loading gun especially for use in muzzleloader season! Personally I think it rather makes the whole thing pointless. The whole idea was that muzzle-loading guns have their drawbacks, hence the special season. But the inline has no such drawbacks.

Regards, Le Loup.

[whatzthis64]

Thanks for the video, i have a question does the flint make the spark or is it the metal that does it. If its the metal does it ware out the gun piece over time? Thank you. Brian

[historicaltrekking]

@whatzthis64 Hi Brian. It is the "hammer" or "Steel" that produces the spark. The spark is a small slither of steel made white hot by the friction caused by the sharp edged flint cutting off the steel.

The steel/hammer is very hard, made from a high carbon steel. I have never heard of one wearing out or being worn away.

Regards, Le Loup.

A Woodsrunner's Diary.

[miamiarnisgroup]

This is just what I needed to know!  Your mind reading skills are amazing Lol. Thank you!

[historicaltrekking]

@miamiarnisgroup I am glad it was of use to you, & thank you for the comment.

Regards.