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Author Topic: How many sparks from a flint to ignite  (Read 4170 times)

Offline Hood

How many sparks from a flint to ignite
« on: November 19, 2017, 02:39:27 AM »
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
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Offline Uncle Russ

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Re: How many sparks from a flint to ignite
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2017, 04:47:26 PM »
Quote from: Hood on November 19, 2017, 02:39:27 AM
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...
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Offline Hanshi

Re: How many sparks from a flint to ignite
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2017, 05:28:47 PM »
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.
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Young guys should hang out with old guys; old guys know stuff.

Offline ross

Re: How many sparks from a flint to ignite
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2017, 10:03:52 PM »
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
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Offline Rocklock

Re: How many sparks from a flint to ignite
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2017, 09:00:49 AM »
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
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Offline AxelP

Re: How many sparks from a flint to ignite
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2017, 11:11:55 AM »
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
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