How long does a flint normally last?

I'm sure this topic has came up before....but here it goes again and I am new to the flintlock world, so go easy.
I Just received my new flintlock rifle,it's a Reading Penn. in a 54 cal.with a Dickert lock. I fired app. 30-40 rounds through it and have had to already change out one flint to a brand new one. Is this normal? or am over knapping to keep it sharp? When knapping I don't see a huge amount of shards falling...but it seems that if I don't knap often it Klatches..and now I'm on my second flint.
Any suggestions, comments or otherwise is welcome!

Target shooting, up to 75 shots...

Try this, instead of knapping, flip the flint over and keep using...Usually I can do this before knapping...

Hunting, I try to use fresh flints, check them for a good spark and use them...

I've yet to be able to get more than 30 or 40 shots myself out of a flint on most of my locks.

I get about 75-100 sometimes more depending upon the flint. Like someone else said flip it over some flints I can use both sides on both ends and get 4 flips. Depends on the flint though.

2_Tall said:

Depends on the flint though.

Click to expand...

That is a big part of it. Some flints seem to go on forever and some look half spent after 10-12 shots...??? :idunno:

I have taken Tom Fuller English flints to 100 shots - but that is with a lot of flipping and nibbling on my part. If I don't get 60 shots out of a flint I am disappointed. I have done 50 without touching a flint.

This is 25 shots in a Mike Brooks fowler without doing anything but reloading. No wiping, no knapping, no vent picking.





That flint went on for another 75 shots before I retired it.

Guess I should add...It depends upon the lock as well...

In this game there ain't no normal in anything. How long a flint will last depends on several variables. e.g. quality of the flint, how it was knapped; quality of the lock; proper size of flint; type of rock; phase of moon and whether you had breakfast that morning.
Some last only a few strikes, others might be usable for scores of shots. I'd say for a black English chipped 10 to 30 shots would be a 'norm'. In one rifle I have using German sawed flints I got so many shots I didn't count. You milage might vary. Just buy as many as you can afford when you can. I prefer to buy at large shoot events so I can sort through the vendors box full and pick the best.

The opera is over, the lady has sung, nice answer, hard to add anything to the above.

Flint quality and lock quality are the biggest two factors.

I have had over 100 shots with my old North Star trade gun. In fact used the thing for small game hunting for a decade on a single flint.

The very next flint broke after a dozen shots.

When you select flints, if amber or english gray, hold them up to the light. You should be able to see light through them. No cloudy or muddy spots and no cracks or fissures. It should appear a uniform color and uniform level of translucence The front edge should be relatively straight across. Nothing is fool proof, but pick them carefully.

I was able to buy seconds in central Texas before the patent and saws were sold to T/C si I really never tried to get huge numbers of shots out of one. My guess would be 40 per side on the flints.

I was always interested in sure ignition rather than a flint marathon. At matches I have seen enough failures to fire and on the line knapping to do me a life time. After two or three misfires it is a rare flint lock shooter that can stay calm and focused on safe gun handling.

I have to say I have seen pretty groups with at least 20 tries to get off the five shots. It always messed me up.

Geo. T.

If all that was available was sawn flints, I would convert to matchlocks

Some locks will strike the frizzen with the top jaw screw if the flint is not put in properly.
Depending on the lock and how well its designed flint life can be anywhere from short to long. I have never bothered counting shots on a flint. If the lock eats flints I fix it re-arch springs or even replace the frizzen. This last cured a really bad flint breaker due to frizzen rebound that I could not control with the frizzen spring. 40-100 shots is the norm I suppose. Remember the flint is not uniform from piece to piece and some will significantly outlast another.

Dan

Thanks guys!

I have had a couple locks that were good for about 6 shots. I sent them to a lock specialist and it was very worth the money spent. Now they go for somewhere north of 70. I have forgot how many shots I get. I have one lock that will go for over 400 shots. It does not through a huge amount of sparks, but it always throws a spark that lights the pan. I may sell the gun(I wouldn't of that really), but never the lock.

I'm sure I drive vendors crazy, when I get a chance to pick thru the flints. I carry a little gage I made, and drop each flint in it, that way I get the same length and width on each one. Then I sort out the one's with irregular humps or bad edges. Then I pick the dozen or so that I want.

I can switch out a flint, in a matter of seconds, in the field or at the range.

Vendors, have been obliging, so far.

With "range" flints I average from 60 to well over 100 shots. But I use every bit until it simply can't be held by the jaws. I flip,turn and knap to the bitter end. Always a fresh flint for hunting, though.