Flints

[Stryker]

Came across this interesting quote last night from Chapter III, of the book Daniel Boone, Wilderness Scout, by Stewart Edward White


"Its owner never used any but the finest French flints, thin and very sharp. They were semi-transparent, and one would fire 150 shots."

[mario]

Considering S.E.W. wasn't born until 1873, I'd take his writings with a grain of salt.

But anyhow...even the British Army used French amber flints until the RevWar era.

Mario

[Kermit]

TOTW is selling French amber flints. Apparently a limited supply, and color varies amber to grey.

[Ohio Joe]

Have never used the French Amber Flints, but I do use the Black English Flints and have gotten as many as 120+ shots from a single BEF.  However, I'd say I average anywhere from 50 to 80 shots from the BEF's...

For Boone to have supposedly said he got 150 shots from a French Amber Flint, I see no reason to doubt him if he actually did say this?  He may also have just been referring to a few times that it happened, just as the 120+ shots from the BEF that happened for me.

It would be interesting to know where Stewart Edward White obtained his information?

[pathfinder]

Until the price of the amber colored flints went beyond reason, that's all I used. Didn't keep track of how many shots I got out of them, seemed they may have gotten a few more shot's than the black one's, THEY LOOKED COOL!. Now I use Rich Pierce's American river bottom flint's. I still can't see much difference between the three. I'm going for the American!

[melsdad]

I'm going for the American!

Amen!!

[Gambia]

Pathfinder, do you have any contact information for Rich. I would be interested in getting some of his flints.

[Kermit]

Me too. Any contact info?

[Kermit]

I just found this in the archives...
RPIERCE@im.wustl.edu

[Gambia]

Kermit, Thanks for the info. I already sent an e-mail.

[hawkeye]

I use all three types of flints and Rich's do seem to hold up the longest followed by the French amber flints. You won't go wrong with any of them though.

[cb]

Here's Rich's advert from the ALR site....
Made from local white to gray rock, these are rough, tough, and sparky.
1/2" wide x 5/8" long are $8 per dozen.
5/8" wide x 3/4" long are $10 per dozen
3/4" wide x 7/8" long are $12 per dozen
7/8" wide x 1" long are $12 per dozen
1" wide x 1 and 1/8" long are $15 per dozen
1 and 1/8" wide x 1 and 1/4" long are $15 per dozen.
Shipping and handling is generally $1 per dozen, more for larger sizes.
I'll need your name and address in an email with "flints" in the subject line, and will send you the flints for your inspection with an invoice.  If these work for you, you can pay by check.  If not what you need, just return them, no questions asked.
Please email me directly: rpierce@im.wustl.edu

[Kermit]

WHAT A DEAL!!!

...and in this case "ALR" stands for...?

[nessy357]

I bought some of rich's flints  :lol: Good sense of humour also.

Cheers Bob.

[jbullard1]

At our woods walk shoot this past weekend another member was having trouble getting his rock lock to spark consistently. I had 4 of Rich's flints in my bag and gave him one to try. He ended up beating me by one point on the course. Then I gave him another for a spare and told him to contact Rich
Great rocks he sells