Traditional Muzzleloading Association
The Center of Camp => The Campfire => Topic started by: RobD on August 03, 2017, 09:04:17 AM
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An old "common" (double edged) gun flint with many dozens of good firings finally lost its edge, After 3 failures I flipped it over to its second edge, which was also a tad worn. After 2 failures I had enuf and swapped it out for a new flint that wouldn't spark on its first flight and required a bit of knapping. When I brushed the ultra tiny knapped flint shards off the bench I got a nice 1/4" cut on the pinky. Flint can be surgically sharp, beware! After that, she fired every time. Life is still good. :)
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Glad you posted that Rob! This place has been deader than Uncle George for a while now! Some of my gear I've been working on....rifles are both OK but just doing some other things with related gear and I haven't been shooting because it's just been too blasted hot/humid! :Doh! Cooler weather can't get here fast enough! :pray:
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Glad you posted that Rob! This place has been deader than Uncle George for a while now! Some of my gear I've been working on....rifles are both OK but just doing some other things with related gear and I haven't been shooting because it's just been too blasted hot/humid! :Doh! Cooler weather can't get here fast enough! :pray:
I'll second both of those notions! :bl th up
Uncle Russ....
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Yes sir, it happens.
I once had a flint with over 80 shots off it,,, went to the Range and got 20+ more shots off it,,, thought to myself that I'd never have to change that flint out for a long time! :bl th up Then it happened on my following trip to the Range with that same rifle off that same flint,, she gave up and wouldn't give no more... She was a good flint while she lasted... It happens. :shake
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I carry a diamond knife sharpener in my kit to sharpen the cut flints. It works!
~WH~
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I, too, have had the frustration of using a dull flint. I do carry several replacements in a flint wallet.
I tried and tried to get some sparks from a flint duller than a politician, but the rifle wouldn't fire. Replaced the flint and I had fast working flintlock.
Ron
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.......(snip)............I tried and tried to get some sparks from a flint duller than a politician, but the rifle wouldn't fire. Replaced the flint and I had fast working flintlock.
Ron
Perhaps we should all remember this most excellent advise, come voting time.
:hairy
Kidding aside, of course you're right Ron, dull flints do make Jack a dull boy, dull flints can also be a really nerve racking psychological thing too, especially when we have no way to freshen them, or a new replacement in the wallet.
In fact, for me, when any gun does not fire when you want it to, and expect it to, this alone can ruin your entire shooting game....for hours, even days.
But that's just me, perhaps this is not true with everyone, on the other hand, I betcha if the truth be known, it affects more folks than those that are ready and willing to admit that it does......lol
Uncle Russ...
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Can't think of a faster way to develop a flinch.
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Can't think of a faster way to develop a flinch.
And there's really no reason for a 'flinch'!
All the BAD STUFF comes out the front end!! :bl th up :toast
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A good sharp flint is just as important as using good caps. I've shot both cap and flint for a long time and will admit that it takes a shot or two when switching from cap to flint just to "re" familiarize one's self (well me anyway) with the switch over. This is where that warm up target comes in handy,,, however, I have found if I just switch from a caplock to a flintlock and stay with the flintlock then I don't need that warm up target as the mind set is already established that I'm shooting one of my flintlock muzzleloaders.
I think in today's world we have a tendency to think the old timers of yesteryear didn't experience the dreaded "flinch" when going from cap to flint,,, but I expect they did. Shooting a traditional muzzle loader today (both types of ignition) is no different then shooting one 150 years ago. In fact we probably have the edge in today's world as our shooting is not dependent on, life or death, or if we eat that night or not. If anything, the old timers of yesteryear was probably more uncertain of the "percussion cap" over the reliability of the, Flint... :shake
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I made this flaker to sharpen my flints, it takes very small chips off, is much more precise than a flint hammer and makes a really sharp flint.
(https://i.imgur.com/CrJgK6x.jpg)
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I think in today's world we have a tendency to think the old timers of yesteryear didn't experience the dreaded "flinch" when going from cap to flint
Well Joe, back 150 years ago I expect most folks had one gun, period. We live in an incredibly affluent society where we can afford to have more than firearm and get these problems of switching from one to another. Back in the day you made do with what you had and, while a small minority might have been wealthy enough to have several guns, the vast majority didn't have to decide whether to use the flintlock or the caplock today!
~Kees~
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I have one of those pressure flakers too and have to agree with Eric: They are more precise than a snapping hammer and do leave a very sharp edge! :bl th up
Question for Eric: What kind of copper is used for the tip and where do you get it?
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I've had flints that went 100+ and at least one that only gave about 4 shots. I've had them break, self knapp and perform with honors. It's not unusual to have them "need a knapp" after 30 (+ or -) shots. And it's not unusual to get that many shots or more after knapping. And these suckers can be SHARP! I've bled a lot from flint cuts over the years.
Unlike some, I've never got great results from "pressure flaking". I did take a small piece of copper and mounted on a screwdriver blade that I flat ground. I generally knapp with the flint installed and get good results. I've still got good many white, black English and amber French flints. I'll put in a new flint at the start of hunting season. The old flint goes back in for the rest of the year. I'll use it until there's not enough left for the cock jaws to hold on to.
(https://s20.postimg.org/p4mrjhi2l/PICT0576-1-1.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
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I found the copper on the ground when I was walking if I remember right. I am pretty sure it is from a telephone pole ground strap, what I found was about 6" long.
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Thanks Eric! :)
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I am pretty sure it is from a telephone pole ground strap, what I found was about 6" long.
I'll have to go look in the alley out back. The last time I checked. every power pole back there had the ground wire cut off about as far up as a man can reach with an axe. Might be some pieces lying around. :o :o :o
I've called it in to the power company three times. The first two they came out and put new wires in. The last time they just left the poles as is. Things are chancy in Chauncey, Ohio!
~Kees~
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I am pretty sure it is from a telephone pole ground strap, what I found was about 6" long.
I'll have to go look in the alley out back. The last time I checked. every power pole back there had the ground wire cut off about as far up as a man can reach with an axe. Might be some pieces lying around. :o :o :o
I've called it in to the power company three times. The first two they came out and put new wires in. The last time they just left the poles as is. Things are chancy in Chauncey, Ohio!
~Kees~
Copper has become the metal of choice when it comes to feeding the need for drugs, at least in my neck of the woods....very sad situation. Absolutely disgusting IMHO.
The large farms and Co Ops in the Columbia Basin are always reporting thousands of dollars in theft from the loss of wiring for the irrigation pumps....hundreds of pounds of copper wire on these big farms.
I find myself hoping they will someday make the mistake of cutting a live, hot wire...therein just might lie the lesson they won't soon forget.
I have a old brass T/C "Barrel Wedge Key Pusher" that I filed a small "nick" out of.
It still works just fine for what it was designed for, as it's also pretty heavy on one end, and that makes it nice replacing a Barrel Wedge, as all my "Keys" or Bbl Wedges are just too tight fitting to push back in using your thumb, it is also much easier on your hunting knife handles too, as that is what I used to do...... plus, it makes a super edge chaser on flints with absolutely no effort, or any great skills needed to get the job done....and it does it real quick.
It took half a dozen tries to get this picture where you can see it, but finally, after laying the tool on a handkerchief, I think you can figure out what I'm talking about.
(https://i.imgur.com/s8ewkOs.jpg)
Uncle Russ...
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A friend of mine in the San Joaquin Valley in central California reported to me that many of the signals metering traffic onto various freeways in Fresno did not work, because of all the copper wire connecting them to the system had been stolen. It seems that it has all been replaced lately. Can you imagine?
Some things just seem to be too big a temptation to some people.
Sad state of affairs, eh?
John
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What really frosts me is that those ground wires are there to protect the linemen when they work up the poles. If the grounds are gone their lives are at stake. I think that AEP may have their people attach a ground wire at the time they work on a pole, then remove it when they leave. As you said, it's a sorry state of affairs! Even our former sheriff was convicted of selling wire which had been confiscated.
~Kees~
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Here the electric company replaces power poles after the poles have been broken by storms and gives the land owner the old broken/damaged poles.
I have 8 or 9 such poles that were replaced on my property and they still have the old copper ground wires attached,.... anybody needing a piece of copper wire to make a pressure flaker can give me a holler (they work great :bl th up).