How many sparks from a flint to ignite

[Hood]

Okay, I know it only takes one. But do you have any video or pictures showing what you expect? Im having trouble getting what I feel should be adequate amounts of spark from my flint. This is for a fowler using English Flints not the precision ground flints.Thanks

[Uncle Russ]

Okay, I know it only takes one. But do you have any video or pictures showing what you expect? Im having trouble getting what I feel should be adequate amounts of spark from my flint. This is for a fowler using English Flints not the precision ground flints.Thanks

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Video+of+Flintlock+sparking&view=detail&mid=DA418289406EBA4A5531DA418289406EBA4A5531&FORM=VIRE

There's plenty good videos on the internet....just Google 'em up, and you decide whether your flintlock is "good enough"...like you say, "it don't take much", but this is a situation where more is better.

Uncle Russ...

[Hanshi]

Is your gun firing as it should when you pull the trigger?  If so, you're getting plenty of sparks and you have no problem.  But if not, you need a better flint, mount it properly and/or check the lock for soft frizzen.

[ross]

Well the more the merrier. I had a navy arms with a "soft" frizzen. I re-hardened the frizzen with great results. The rock needs to be sharp and also lock timing could be the culprit. Ross

[Rocklock]

SAFELY!  As in lock removed from gun, gloves and glasses on.   No prime. In a very dim to dark room or out doors. Dry fire the lock at arms distance to see how many sparks are actually being produced.  I’m sure you’ll be surprised.

TC

[AxelP]

The sparks are not always easy to see in daylight.

With an unprimed gun, I usually see two or more recognizable sparks in daylight... and the hot metal chards will dance and sizzle a little right in the pan. You can see more in the dark or fading light.

K