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Leather or lead for flint

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I have always used leather for a flint cushion and recently acquired a Brown Bess with lead in the cock. I tried the lead but the flint kept getting loose. What do you guys like?
Flintlocklar :grin:
 
Leather here. I used lead in a Pedersoli Harpers Ferry pistol. The lock needed work so I sent it to Brad at Cabin Creek Muzzleloading and he said not to use lead. Other guys will say lead works good soooo....
 
Some use lead, others like leather. There are plenty of past posts pro & con if you do a search & like reading. I follow what I believe to have been the most common practice in the past - lead in large military locks and leather in everything else.
 
I like leather, but not just any leather. Some sold in strips, are just too flimsy. I like to think more as to what would have been available at the times when these rifles were used.

My way of describing has always been, similar to old baseball glove. My carry bag, came with left over scraps. This is perfect for holding flint or making into a hammer stall.
 
Larry (Omaha) said:
I have always used leather for a flint cushion and recently acquired a Brown Bess with lead in the cock. I tried the lead but the flint kept getting loose. What do you guys like?
Flintlocklar :grin:

That's what happens when you use lead. Leather only.
 
Old posts say that lead prevents bounce on the frizzen and thus self knaps and provides more spark. Lead was also said to come loose easier and required more attention to keep it tight. Lead added weight and slowed hammer fall speeds and was harder on the lock.

I have used both with good results but prefer leather. Most of my locks like cut agate so that's what I use most. When hunting it provides good results and if it's a new one you can always flip it around to the sharper edge. No knapping.

Agate is consistent in size with no humps that can come with real flints. I do have a good supply of black English flints but seldom use them.
 
I've tried both and had the same results...after about 5 or so shots out of my round face queen Ann lock the lead became loose...leather loosens up at times, but only after the flint wears down to almost time to replace. My two cents..
 
Military Muskets commonly used lead.

Using lead on a Jim Chambers lock will void all warranties.
 
It takes a special skill to properly make, form, install & use lead so that it doesn't loosen during use. All who can't master the skill must use leather instead.

So said the old Gent who taught me how to shoot flintlocks from his family legacy collection. He would change flints at the range, and used both lead and leather. Some of the old leather in use was dry, brittle and crumbled when removed or scraped off the cock jaws.

His rule of thumb: larger (wider) frizzens all used lead & that was what he used when replacing old flints. Smaller (narrower) frizzens all got leather. He had an ancient, wide roll-up pouch that contained both lead of varying dimensions, and also leather.

The leather was dense & stiff and looked a lot like old cardboard that was soaked in tallow or ball lube. Some pieces were stuck to the inside of the pouch. It had no cushioning property, but did form around smaller flints just fine.
 
AZbpBurner makes a couple of good points. :hatsoff:
I won't use lead. If Jim and Brad are agin' it...that's good enough for me. :bow: I got enough other things to get all "experimental" about..!! :shake:
Using leather...what I have noticed is that I generally get better results if I pick a piece that kind of hard/stiff, than if I use a butter soft piece of something like Elk or Deer. I believe there's a compromise to be found between lead..that doesn't provide ANY kind of "cushioning", and real soft leather that (perhaps) provides too much cushion. :hmm:
 
Thanks guys,
I have always used leather, but wondered what a poll would say about preference. Looks like the responses favor leather! If you are in the lead crowd, fine, it is a free country, do what works for you.
Flinlocklar :hatsoff:
 

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