Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Traditional Firearms => Flintlock Long Guns => Topic started by: Minnesota Mike on October 17, 2008, 10:08:08 AM

Title: Cleaning a Flinter
Post by: Minnesota Mike on October 17, 2008, 10:08:08 AM: Looking for opinions/advice/input regarding removing a lock for cleaning flinter.

Have heard reasonng for both do and don't regarding taking off the lock everytime you clean a flintlock after shooting.

r/
MM
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Post by: butterchurn on October 17, 2008, 10:17:09 AM: I always take mine out, but on some of my guns it probably wouldn't be needed because crud doesn't seem to get down into lock works.
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Post by: jbullard1 on October 17, 2008, 10:50:53 AM: I take mine out every time
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Post by: Spotted Bull on October 17, 2008, 02:07:28 PM: I remove mine as well........use a good strong toothbrush to clean it with.
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Post by: rollingb on October 17, 2008, 02:17:42 PM: I take mine off when I clean as well.
The priming fouling can get into the smallest crack, draw moisture and cause rust, if it's ignored.
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Post by: mike rumping on October 17, 2008, 02:18:19 PM: why would you not want to remove it?
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Post by: Mitch on October 17, 2008, 02:19:38 PM: I don't always remove the lock...I often leave my firelocks loaded for extended periods of time(longest stayed loaded for over 8 months-went off no problem)...Most of the time, I just plug touch-hole, fill with water, dump, swab with tow or patch and reload...about once every 5-6 months, I'll do a complete clean-hot water, remove lock, clean EVERYTHING and re-oil...I don't believe there is only one way to maintain your firelock-to each his own system...Mitch
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Post by: Hank in WV on October 17, 2008, 05:22:16 PM: I take mine off every time and throw it into a bucket of water while I clean the barrel.
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Post by: Uncle Russ on October 17, 2008, 06:11:46 PM: I'm with Mitch....I don't remove the lock everytime I shoot my Flinters. But, I do remove it, and clean it, if I spent a day at the range, shot a dozen or so times, or been out in the weather....if I really use the gun, then I really clean it...top to bottom.

I have more problems with my capbusters than I do with my Flinters!

Uncle Russ...
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Post by: Buffler Razz on October 17, 2008, 06:43:42 PM: If I am on trek or out camping for a few days I may not remove the lock when I clean my gun. But, once I arrive at home the gun gets a good cleaning including removing the lock for a good wipe down.
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Post by: melsdad on October 17, 2008, 07:49:50 PM: I remove mine everytime I clean. If I am at a 2 day shoot I will only remove it once I get home to do a final cleaning.
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Post by: Sir Michael on October 17, 2008, 10:37:11 PM: Cleaning a flinter is like so many things in this hobby/sport. Every shooter has a different take on it. Personally, I've seen too many cases of people who have NEVER taken their lock off to clean (especially cap shooters who can use a tube on their nipple) that have had problems with ignition. When I've pulled the lock I've found it encrusted with corrosion, crud, powder residue, and who knows what. A quick cleaning and lubing without taking the lock apart usually gets it working again but what they really needed was a thorough cleaning and polishing.

Removing the lock at each cleaning if nothing else provides an unobstructed access to the touch hole which you can then remove or not at your discretion especially when your gun does not have a pinned barrel.

It also provides you with an opportunity to check out the lock and make sure it is in top working order. Which if you've followed this and other forums requires the tuning of a lock by polishing all of the mating surfaces and points of interference. After all of this work to make the lock quick and reliable WHY WOULD YOU NOT REMOVE IT DURING EVERY CLEANING TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NOT COMPROMISED ALL OF THIS EFFORT?????
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Post by: mike rumping on October 18, 2008, 11:18:48 PM: Better said than i did Sir Michael.
Mike
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Post by: Wyoming Mike on October 19, 2008, 08:14:09 AM: If I'm at rendezvous or a multiple day shooting match, I don't pull the lock when cleaning. I don't want to take a chance of dropping the lock in the dirt in case I get funble fingered. I use one of those denture brushes with short bristles on one side and longer ones on the other.

If I am cleaning at home I pull the lock. It is just easier for me to clean it up when it is out of the rifle. I can also give a quick inspection to see how the guts are doing and give a little extra lube to some of the parts if needed.

I usually take the locks apart every year or so and give everything a good cleaning and lube. This gets all the little gunkies that get in there over the course of time.
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Post by: oomcurt on October 24, 2008, 06:04:33 PM: As has been said..everyone has thier druthers. So do I. If I do a lot of shooting at a range I pull the lock. If the gun only has one or two shots fired from it as in a hunting situation I do not pull the lock. Why? Well for one reason, say you are hunting for a week as in deer season and are camping....losing a screw then would be more than upsetting. Another reason is that just one or two shots would not create the fouling that is caused when one fires shots at a range...say 25 or even more.

Along with all this...and I have tried this both ways and can see little difference..... At times when cleaning..doesn't matter if it was at a range or hunting...I may not pull the flint...then again I might. On inspection, I have found that the leather holding the flint is not harmed by the water and the metal of the cock both top and bottom where the flint is held is also clean and not rusted or corroded.

Bottom line...thinking back it seems to me that say from the long hunters through the fur trappers...those guns recieved a lot more abuse than anyone today would want to give thier guns, yet, those old guns functioned very well for those folks that used those guns in life and death situations. So...and while I am not in any way advocating sloppy cleaning procedures, I do feel that at times this complete cleaning thing is a bit much.

Just my two cents...
Curt
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Post by: Indiana on October 24, 2008, 06:41:49 PM: I used to take my lock out every couple of times, but usually when I did I would have to take it apart and polish a few parts to get rid of some surface rust. I just take it out every time now, for the most part. I don't like getting my guns rusty...
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Post by: Gordon H.Kemp on October 26, 2008, 05:32:28 PM: As was said by others,you have to shoot and carry and get familiar with the quirks of each gun, and use a little common sense. I don;t feel that pulling the lock in a field situation is good policy (for me).
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Post by: pathfinder on October 27, 2008, 07:35:12 AM: I'm trying to train my guns to clean themselves, after all, I feed them,give them a warm dry place to stay and make sure they are safe. So far no luck. Ingrate's!
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Post by: Hank in WV on October 27, 2008, 05:18:14 PM: Quote from: "pathfinder"
I'm trying to train my guns to clean themselves, after all, I feed them,give them a warm dry place to stay and make sure they are safe. So far no luck. Ingrate's!

That's the trouble with these youngins today. You're not strict enough with them. Maybe take away their Goex and feed them Pyrodex for awhile. I should think that would make them come around to your way of thinking.
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Post by: Uncle Russ on October 27, 2008, 06:11:29 PM: Quote from: "Hank in WV"
Quote from: "pathfinder"
I'm trying to train my guns to clean themselves, after all, I feed them,give them a warm dry place to stay and make sure they are safe. So far no luck. Ingrate's! :rotf :rotf

That'll lurn 'em, durn 'em...for sure!

Uncle Russ...
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Post by: pathfinder on October 30, 2008, 05:47:21 AM: Don't think I could live with myself for being so cruel! But if it'll work, I'll try. Tough Love
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Post by: Gambia on October 30, 2008, 06:27:37 AM: Quote from: "Roaring Bull"
I remove mine as well........use a good strong toothbrush to clean it with.

I take mine off every time also and I also use a good strong toothbrush. One word of advice, If you use the tooth brush, be sure to clean it and put it back in the wife's holder before bedtime or she will get furious with ya'
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Post by: Spotted Bull on October 30, 2008, 06:30:12 AM: Griz, the first time I cleaned my flinter's lock with the toothbrush it was hers. She didn't know that I had gotten her a new one. Her bristles were stiffer than mine.

OH YEAH, she was a little ANGRY to say the least!
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Post by: Loyalist Dave on October 30, 2008, 08:52:34 AM: OR..., you can just rinse the heck out of hers with hot water, and put it back. It will be dry by the time she gets home from work, if you wait to clean the rifle on a weekday. If she doesn't freak out, no harm done eh? Besides toothbrushes are full of bacteria so disinfecting is a good thing 8)

LD
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Post by: Uncle Russ on October 30, 2008, 09:47:31 AM: Quote from: "griz"
Quote from: "Roaring Bull"
I remove mine as well........use a good strong toothbrush to clean it with.

I take mine off every time also and I also use a good strong toothbrush. One word of advice, If you use the tooth brush, be sure to clean it and put it back in the wife's holder before bedtime or she will get furious with ya' :roll eyes Oh Boy! Trouble brewing fer sure!

Uncle Russ...
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Post by: FlintSteel on December 19, 2008, 02:03:26 PM: I always take the lock out and clean it UNLESS I'm just doing a quick wet swab with a cleaning patch at the range or in the field. If the barrel is coming off for cleaning it only makes sense to take out the lock too. Afterall you have to remove at least the rear screw to get the barrel off. Rinse the lock inards in HOT water and dry it well and add a drop of oil for care free service. That's the way I do it.
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Post by: FlintSteel on December 19, 2008, 02:04:01 PM: I always take the lock out and clean it UNLESS I'm just doing a quick wet swab with a cleaning patch at the range or in the field. If the barrel is coming off for cleaning it only makes sense to take out the lock too. Afterall you have to remove at least the rear screw to get the barrel off. Rinse the lock inards in HOT water and dry it well and add a drop of oil for care free service. That's the way I do it.
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Post by: IronDawg on February 12, 2009, 11:28:09 PM: I remove mine because thats the way to get that "nipple flush" kit from TOW hooked to the rifle. and man it sure as heck makes my clean up ALOT less messy. I get stuff everywhere when cleaning mine if that lil suction hose aint hooked to it.

But mentioning that.. My lock is normally very clean inside the rifle and not much on the outside either, other than the pan.
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Post by: tg on February 14, 2009, 10:13:11 AM: I like to remove the lock everytime I clean the gun to assure getting the mating surfaves of the lock and barrel clean, the barrel comes out once a year to check for moisture and set back in a light bed of wax/oil