Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Traditional Firearms => Flintlock Long Guns => Topic started by: Stryker on October 24, 2008, 01:07:48 PM

Title: Flints
Post by: Stryker on October 24, 2008, 01:07:48 PM: Came across this interesting quote last night from Chapter III, of the book Daniel Boone, Wilderness Scout, by Stewart Edward White

"Its owner never used any but the finest French flints, thin and very sharp. They were semi-transparent, and one would fire 150 shots."
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Post by: mario on October 24, 2008, 04:46:29 PM: Considering S.E.W. wasn't born until 1873, I'd take his writings with a grain of salt.

But anyhow...even the British Army used French amber flints until the RevWar era.

Mario
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Post by: Kermit on October 25, 2008, 12:39:39 PM: TOTW is selling French amber flints. Apparently a limited supply, and color varies amber to grey.
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Post by: Ohio Joe on October 25, 2008, 06:36:48 PM: Have never used the French Amber Flints, but I do use the Black English Flints and have gotten as many as 120+ shots from a single BEF. However, I'd say I average anywhere from 50 to 80 shots from the BEF's...

For Boone to have supposedly said he got 150 shots from a French Amber Flint, I see no reason to doubt him if he actually did say this? He may also have just been referring to a few times that it happened, just as the 120+ shots from the BEF that happened for me.

It would be interesting to know where Stewart Edward White obtained his information?
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Post by: pathfinder on October 27, 2008, 07:44:01 AM: Until the price of the amber colored flints went beyond reason, that's all I used. Didn't keep track of how many shots I got out of them, seemed they may have gotten a few more shot's than the black one's, THEY LOOKED COOL!. Now I use Rich Pierce's American river bottom flint's. I still can't see much difference between the three. I'm going for the American! :shake
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Post by: melsdad on October 27, 2008, 08:58:36 AM: Quote from: "pathfinder"
I'm going for the American! :shake

Amen!!
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Post by: Gambia on October 27, 2008, 09:03:50 AM: Pathfinder, do you have any contact information for Rich. I would be interested in getting some of his flints.
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Post by: Kermit on October 27, 2008, 12:22:03 PM: Me too. Any contact info?
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Post by: Kermit on October 27, 2008, 12:26:45 PM: I just found this in the archives...
RPIERCE@im.wustl.edu
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Post by: Gambia on October 27, 2008, 12:48:22 PM: Kermit, Thanks for the info. I already sent an e-mail.
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Post by: hawkeye on October 27, 2008, 01:31:02 PM: I use all three types of flints and Rich's do seem to hold up the longest followed by the French amber flints. You won't go wrong with any of them though.
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Post by: cb on October 27, 2008, 04:21:57 PM: Here's Rich's advert from the ALR site....
Made from local white to gray rock, these are rough, tough, and sparky.
1/2" wide x 5/8" long are $8 per dozen.
5/8" wide x 3/4" long are $10 per dozen
3/4" wide x 7/8" long are $12 per dozen
7/8" wide x 1" long are $12 per dozen
1" wide x 1 and 1/8" long are $15 per dozen
1 and 1/8" wide x 1 and 1/4" long are $15 per dozen.
Shipping and handling is generally $1 per dozen, more for larger sizes.
I'll need your name and address in an email with "flints" in the subject line, and will send you the flints for your inspection with an invoice. If these work for you, you can pay by check. If not what you need, just return them, no questions asked.
Please email me directly: rpierce@im.wustl.edu
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Post by: Kermit on October 28, 2008, 02:42:17 PM: WHAT A DEAL!!!

...and in this case "ALR" stands for...?
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Post by: nessy357 on October 28, 2008, 03:02:39 PM: I bought some of rich's flints :lol: Good sense of humour also.

Cheers Bob.
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Post by: jbullard1 on October 28, 2008, 03:42:27 PM: At our woods walk shoot this past weekend another member was having trouble getting his rock lock to spark consistently. I had 4 of Rich's flints in my bag and gave him one to try. He ended up beating me by one point on the course. Then I gave him another for a spare and told him to contact Rich
Great rocks he sells
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Post by: mario on October 28, 2008, 03:51:10 PM: Quote from: "nessy357"
I had to chuckle when I got the pkg in the mail, Rich had described them as "Creek rocks" on the customs declaration.

Well, that IS what they are...

For those of you who have used them for awhile, do they eat up your hammer (frizzen) any more than the black or amber flints?

Mario

PS- He makes some nice powderhorns, too.
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Post by: cb on October 28, 2008, 04:40:23 PM: Quote from: "Kermit"
WHAT A DEAL!!!

...and in this case "ALR" stands for...?

American Long Rifles

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For those of you who have used them for awhile, do they eat up your hammer (frizzen) any more than the black or amber flints?
Nope - been using them exclusively for over a year now.......reminds me a need to order some more for my new flinter due in January or so.........
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Post by: Uncle Russ on October 28, 2008, 05:19:50 PM: I'm still on the first "creek-rock" from Rich that I installed in my GPR about March, IIRC.

I wish I had been counting, or making notes on the number shots I am getting, and as far as wear on the frizen...I'm not astute enough to see any, if it's there.

Uncle Russ....
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Post by: Spotted Bull on October 28, 2008, 06:13:40 PM: I have been using mine for about 7 months with a great many shots fired and no adverse affects on the frizzen.
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Post by: pathfinder on October 29, 2008, 09:37:05 PM: Sorry I didn't get back to ya Griz,awfully busy at work and up north. Give Rich's flints a try. Nothin' ta lose, if ya don't like 'em,send them back. I can't see how anyone would,they work really good. Benn thinkin' of painting them yellow,maybe folks will think I'm LOADED!
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Post by: Gambia on October 30, 2008, 06:21:48 AM: Quote from: "pathfinder"
Sorry I didn't get back to ya Griz,awfully busy at work and up north. Give Rich's flints a try. Nothin' ta lose, if ya don't like 'em,send them back. I can't see how anyone would,they work really good. Benn thinkin' of painting them yellow,maybe folks will think I'm LOADED! :x Too early for this.
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Post by: Kermit on October 30, 2008, 02:09:59 PM: I e-mailed Rich and got a reply the same day! I'm looking forward to giving them a try.
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Post by: Gambia on October 31, 2008, 06:21:41 AM: Quote from: "Kermit"
I e-mailed Rich and got a reply the same day! I'm looking forward to giving them a try.

I talked to him last night on the phone, he even does custom sizes, which is what he is making for me. Good fellow.
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Post by: snake eyes on October 31, 2008, 07:54:36 AM: Quote from: "Kermit"
I e-mailed Rich and got a reply the same day! I'm looking forward to giving them a try.
Kermit& Griz,
Rich is everything you have heard here and more.He
refuses to take a payment until you receive his flints. Rich as a
person is above reproach. That is what I look for first when
dealing with anyone.Imo
snake-eyes
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Post by: Gambia on October 31, 2008, 10:00:49 AM: Snake, I hear ya' he would not take a check till I received them, however, I am the same way only in reverse, I can't take anything unless I pay for it first so I sent him his money this morning....hope he don't get too mad.
I am looking forward to getting them and trying them.
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Post by: Kermit on November 20, 2008, 07:38:09 PM: He must be a busy fella, cuz I've heard nothin' since an e-mail reply. I guess good things take time...
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Post by: jbullard1 on November 20, 2008, 07:49:16 PM: Quote from: "Kermit"
He must be a busy fella, cuz I've heard nothin' since an e-mail reply. I guess good things take time...

Just to be on the safe side try to contact him again
I've had nothing but prompt service from him
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Post by: Buck Hunter 1 on November 21, 2008, 08:10:24 AM: I sent him my requirements, he resonded in a couple hours. Also gave me some reference reading in regard resharpening my flints or 'working them' to keep sharp? I think that is what you all call it. I keep hearing about working that flint w/ nail, antler all kinds but i'm a picture guy, hope he has pictures.
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Post by: flyfisher76544 on November 21, 2008, 04:36:25 PM: Quote from: "Kermit"
I e-mailed Rich and got a reply the same day! I'm looking forward to giving them a try.

Same here. Wife already recieved them like a week later. Can't wait to give them a try once I get back. Yep, already sent the money as well.
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Post by: Double Barrel on December 04, 2008, 12:27:06 PM: Motivated by the good things I read about Mr. Pierce, his service and his flints on this thread, I emailed him and got a baker's dozen. He replied to my emails in a timely manner. He sent me the flints telling me to try them and if they work then send him payment. If they don't just return the flints! So, I had nothing to lose but postage! I tried one in my rifle and it made a nice shower of sparks!

I have already recommended Mr. Pierce's flints to my fellow Huron Muzzleloaders and I would highly reccomend them to anyone who asks.

I think his contact info should be on the TMA's preferred merchants list!
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Post by: rich pierce on December 08, 2008, 06:18:09 PM: Thanks, gentlemen. My goal is to have fun and offer a decent product at a good price. I can get disorganized sometimes so if don't be shy about reminding me if you are not getting an order in a timely fashion. I think maybe the genes for organization and book-keeping are separate from the ones for rock finding and flint knapping.
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Post by: Kermit on December 08, 2008, 10:13:45 PM: Rich, see PM.
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Post by: Mule Brain on December 10, 2008, 08:27:06 PM: I got my last order from Rich, and well they spark like crazy!!

I would have to say, that they are the best I used yet!

Thanks!