Post by: Rusty Gunn on August 04, 2016, 05:20:16 PM
Thank you
Ed
Post by: RobD on August 04, 2016, 05:42:24 PM
i've had way more than a few of these investarms flintlock rifles (rebranded as lyman, cabelas, dixie gun works, and others) and the locks are all the same, and all use a coil spring instead of the classic flat spring for the cock.
i don't think that investarms offers different coil spring weights, but it wouldn't hurt to check. fwiw, i like that heavy cock spring as it yields a fast lock time. in setting up the flint, i'll close the frizzen over the pan, set the cock to half, set the flint in the cock's jaws so that its cutting edge is about 1/16" to 1/8" away from the frizzen and tighten it down (i use a leather wrap over the flint, as most of us do). bevel up or down? experiment to see where the flint strikes the frizzen and at what angle, which should not be so perpendicular as to want to bust off its edge.
as to the frizzen's flat spring, i guess you could make a new one, or retemper it, or change its angle for a softer frizzen action. a stiff frizzen never bothered me, and if the flint's angle is correct it'll strike the frizzen's face at just the right angle to both shave metal and push it off the pan.
i get really good cock and frizzen action on the gpr kit i just built, and good sparks too.
Investarms GPR Kit Hawken - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asQQ0xO-fwY)
Post by: Hanshi on August 04, 2016, 05:58:33 PM
Post by: rollingb on August 04, 2016, 07:19:43 PM
For Investarms "parts", you might check this site out,..... Hawken Cap & Ball Rifle;Bob's Gun Shop. Excam Import by Invest Arms (http://www.gun-parts.com/hawken/)
Post by: RobD on August 04, 2016, 08:01:24 PM
yes, you can remove the frizzen spring and all will be just fine at the range ... but for hunting or woods walks, you'll need to monitor that frizzen and pan so she don't spill off the priming powder. best bet would be to work with the existing spring to make it weaker. there are some gunsmiths hereabouts who could surely help in that manner. but what'll still be critical is the angle that the flint edge strikes the frizzen face. during that adjustment, watch that the flint doesn't get pushed too far back in the cock's jaws as to have the top jaw whack the frizzen face before the flint! 8)
Post by: rollingb on August 04, 2016, 08:22:44 PM
Post by: Rusty Gunn on August 05, 2016, 09:43:27 AM
Ed
Post by: RobD on August 05, 2016, 09:51:52 AM
Post by: rollingb on August 05, 2016, 10:10:57 AM
Quote from: "Rusty Gunn"
Thank you all for the help. Before I change anything, I'm going to get a larger variety of flints to try with both leather and lead wraps.In my experience with using lead wraps, they add to the "impact" of the flint striking the frizzen because of the added weight (which will likely compound the problem you're having now).
Ed
Also when using lead, you will find yourself having to re-tighten the jaws of the cock (more often) or the flint will become loose.
IMHO,.... leather wraps just plain work better than lead (at least for me).
YMMV
Post by: RobD on August 05, 2016, 10:48:48 AM
Post by: Uncle Russ on August 05, 2016, 02:34:35 PM
Quote from: "rfd"
+1 on leather wraps over lead wraps.+2
Having tried both. too many times to count, I settled on leather many years ago.
Uncle Russ....
Post by: Hanshi on August 05, 2016, 03:55:11 PM
Post by: Two Steps on August 05, 2016, 05:04:30 PM
What rfd about setting your flint is a +1 from me. You might also lower your cock all the way down (as if you'd just shot the GPR) and look at the position of your flint...it should be pointing into the pan.
Good luck on getting her to work the way you want...it's a good solid rifle
Al
Post by: Rusty Gunn on October 07, 2016, 05:47:11 PM
Using a leather wrap and a small wood flat toothpick shim under the bottom rear of the flint, I'm getting about 80 shots from the flints with good spark and minimum reknapping.
I'm happy with this rifle. Thanks for evveryones help.
RG
Post by: RobD on October 07, 2016, 05:53:12 PM
Post by: Uncle Russ on October 07, 2016, 06:17:45 PM
Quote from: "Rusty Gunn"
Update, I bought several different flints and am happy with the TOTW black english flints.
Using a leather wrap and a small wood flat toothpick shim under the bottom rear of the flint, I'm getting about 80 shots from the flints with good spark and minimum reknapping.
I'm happy with this rifle. Thanks for evveryones help.
RG
Good on ya, Rusty Gunn!
Sounds like that tooth pick may have changed the angle of the strike, many try turning their flint over to achieve the same goal, good thinking on your part, to think outside the box a bit!
The really big deal here is your getting about 80 shots, that's really good!
BTW: I looked at the price of English flints recently and I almost had a heart attack!
Six or eight years back I bought 100 flints, 5/8 x3/4", and if memory serves me right it was about $75 with shipping....nowadays they are about 2 bucks each, and then shipping is added!!!!
.I seldom throw a flint away!
I knap it until there is little left to stabilize the flint, then it goes in an old coffee can.
But your thought of using a toothpick just turned on a light...I will dig into my coffee can and see if a toothpick can bring any of the old ones back to life.
Uncle Russ...
Post by: RobD on October 07, 2016, 06:27:56 PM
Post by: PetahW on October 07, 2016, 07:46:01 PM
I love it when a plan comes together - Welcome home Pilgrim !
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