Flint knapping

[Tourblanche]

I now have a bag of blunt edge flints  , it is about time
I learn  how to knap  flints .

   Any suggestion ?

[RobD]

put the hammer at half cock and strike the flint edge squarely with a small hammer or brass punch.
 

[Tourblanche]

why brass rather than other metal/alloy ?

[rollingb]

why brass rather than other metal/alloy ?

No sparks,.... if you have to knap the flint on a loaded flinter.

[Feltwad]

If interested in flint  knapping worth a look at your tube  [Brandon Flint Knappers 1940}
Feltwad

[Hanshi]

Sharpening (knapping) dull flints is actually easy and takes little time to learn.  It can double or sometimes triple the life of a flint.  I use a copper hammer and knap mine in the cock.  Just be sure you're holding a finger under the flint edge and have the cock pulled back from the cock notch otherwise you can damage the notch or sear.

[RobD]

Sharpening (knapping) dull flints is actually easy and takes little time to learn.  It can double or sometimes triple the life of a flint.  I use a copper hammer and knap mine in the cock.  Just be sure you're holding a finger under the flint edge and have the cock pulled back from the cock notch otherwise you can damage the notch or sear.

an important point worth taking note of again.  

[Uncle Russ]

Sharpening (knapping) dull flints is actually easy and takes little time to learn.  It can double or sometimes triple the life of a flint.  I use a copper hammer and knap mine in the cock.  Just be sure you're holding a finger under the flint edge and have the cock pulled back from the cock notch otherwise you can damage the notch or sear.

an important point worth taking note of again.  

I totally agree Rob!.....I got in my old "flint bucket" to see what I could try to salvage and even attempted to knap a couple in my hand...after a few scratches/cuts I got a set of Vice Grips and after a little careful adjustment...life was much better.

There was a time when I was really anal about keeping up with the number of shots I could get from each flint, by making a note of the number of ball shot that day, etc, etc,...well, long story short, flint life is all about the knapping, nothing else.

And as Hanshi so aptly mention, the learning curve is a short curve, but one that is very necessary for us flintlock shooters.

Jus'sayin.....

Uncle Russ...

[RobD]

in the same or similar vein, i wish i could knap gun flints.  

actually, i wish i had the smarts to make a good gun flint node that will just about self knap itself with blade cores.  i've got about 40# of georgetown chert and man have i tried.  no question i need a one-on-one mentor, and get taught the right way - and in person!

[JStanley]

I found me a great knapping "hammer" in the scrap box at work. Not PC, HC or even purty but boy howdy is it the perfect fit to the edge of my flints. Held by the copper tube, perpendicular to the lock plate in just a few light pecks the edge looks like a razor!  The flats on the brass hex nut are just under an inch in length.

[RobD]

and to boot, it looks kinda cool, too!  

[JStanley]

It is a temperature probe well that goes in boilers & such. It protects the actual sensor. Makes a heck of a good tool!

[Muley]

Being pretty much a caplock shooter. I need to learn to be good at knapping. I've switched to flintlocks and I plan to stay with it for the rest of my shooting days.

[RobD]

the reknapping of a gun flint is too easy, more than a few good methods ... but knapping out a new gun flint is a totally 'nother story!

[Muley]

I know. I wouldn't even try that. I'll just buy them knapped and do my best to keep them sharp.