My old / new to me flintlock

Hi from a new flintlock shooter . Recently I purchased a Bess style flintlock rifle .54 cal. swamped barrel , maple stock , L&R Lock and brass Bess furniture . I really like the lines of the gun the way it shoulders and the overall appearance . Do not know the maker or barrel maker , but it does have 7 deep grooves and is very smooth / clean in the bore , appears to be rust brown patina . Having shot caplock rifles since 1976 and never owning a flintlock I had and have a few questions . Thinking most of my questions have been answered here many times already , and not wanting to ask the experienced members to answer the same old , over and over . So I read all I could here and other places before going out and trying my flintlock rifle out . Everything went smooth , she shoots great , never had a hangfire or misfire . The dark colored flint was on the lock from the man I purchased the gun from . So this brings me to ask a question that I would like input on . Am I being unreasonable to think I may be able to get more than 50 shots from a flint if it is set proper ? I know that every situation /gun / shooter is different . Could you fellows that have been shooting flintlock for a while say what you would guess that a good set-up should last 25 / 50/ or more ? Thanks in advance and also Thanks for all of the advise I have read here as a bystander . Ron Wehmeyer

Not a flintlock expert yet but I have heard some folks here get 50+. Some I believe w/o maintenance (knapping). I would think it likely, set up and geometry is the factor I hear

Thanks azmntman , I know its a hard question to answer . Not having yrs. of experience using and replacing flints myself ,my guess would be if I got 30 or so strikes before misfires due to low spark started to occur , I would be getting about average . Time will tell. RW

My best advise is learn to knapp yer flint, I have just started. Wish I had all the ones Iv'e tossed when they started to mis-fire :shocked2:

Try using a diamond file. They work great[for me]
and save a lot of material from being knocked off.

Wulf

Yep 50+. Of course one will break every now and then but the 60, 70s and occasional 100 make up for it.

A friend uses a diamond file I use a small brass hammer to dress the edge when needed. Sometimes 20.30 shots.

In a pinch, with the lock in the fired position, ease the hammer and frizzen into contact, and gently increase the pressure on the flint edge. This will re-produce a new edge on your flint. :thumbsup:

Welcome to this unique and special side of firearms. You won't regret it. :hatsoff:

Recently I purchased a Bess style flintlock rifle .54 cal. swamped barrel , maple stock , L&R Lock and brass Bess furniture .

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This sounds intriguing....

hotoSmile:

LD

Am I being unreasonable to think I may be able to get more than 50 shots from a flint if it is set proper ?

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You should get at least, say 40 shots (imho) from a good English flint. Even my India origin muskets get that much from a knapped flint. On a well made lock with good geometry, you may expect 70 shots or more, though you will need some attention to the edge, from time to time.

LD

Thanks 40 Flint ,that is what I was hoping to hear . Sounds like if a fellow starts with a good flint and has a couple spares in his bag he should be OK , for a good bit of shooting . RW

Thanks for the tip Wulf , RW

Thanks Loyalist Dave , sounds like a flint has a chance of lasting longer than I estimated. One thing is for sure I do enjoy shooting the flintlock , and I am already thinking hunting hogs and deer with it . I will have to learn again how to post pictures here , I once could .RW

1776 Patriot , thank you for the tip , something that would be handy on the trail. I will try it . RW

I watched a video on you tube on how to knap your flints when the get wore there is a tool that come with most flintlock tools it looks like a brass ros along the edge of the flint(front Part you put the edge of the tool on the edge of the flint (that hits the Frizzen or hammer as some call it) take your short starter and tap on the bras tool while on the edge of the flint angling down and back. correct me if im wrong but that's what the video showed. so along the front of the flint after done it looked like it was serrated. the man showed no spark before but after he did the how to it sparked. im gonna order me a small tool kit from track or October country and test it out

I like flints that are flat on top and bottom, and are close to the same shape and length. Then, when I replace them, the results should be the same.

In hunting situations, I use the best flints, and save the others, for target shooting.

I like the leather wrap, to be consistent in thickness and stiffness. I prefer leather, like you would see on an old baseball glove.

If the jaws, on the lock, are set properly then the flint and leather are the only thing that can change the geometry. Keep an eye on the flint, to make sure that it doesn't come loose. Wipe the flint, the pan and the frizzen with a clean dry cloth, between shots. I always carry a clean rag, for this purpose.

Good Luck....wish I could get on some hogs.

Hi Howie , that's interesting , I am no flint knapping expert , I have been knapping Texas chert for about 30 yrs. I can knapp a usable arrowhead , throw away about 7 out of every 10 started , sometimes almost done and a flake will reach to deep into the area needing to be thinned . May be why I see on the ground so many points that look unfinished . My tool of choice is a small antler tip . I use the pressure flaking method . I will look for this video . Want to add the importance of eye protection while flaking/ knapping , the flakes are one of the sharpest things known to man , right down to the molecule , once stuck on a sweaty face or arm and wiped , will cut you quick , ask me how I know . RW

Hadden West , good advice , and I will use it . RW

No simple answer to that question. How much use you can get from a flint is dependant on several factors. The main ones are type of flint, geometry of the lock and quality of the hardening of the frizzen face. Five may be the limit. Or 50+. Usually, with a knapped flint some sharpening or re-knapping of the edge will be required after a number of shots. Do buy a supply, flints are disposables. When you order specify you want flat ones. Those flints with big humpies are wuthluss as they just do not hold well in the jaws. All that said, for many years I used sawn gun flints from Germany. Many lasted well over 50 shots without attention. I have a few left but expect to be using primarily English black knapped ones from here on.

Rifleman 1776 Thanks for the advice , i will add a few of the sawn flints to my order and give them a try .RW

Dusty Tex I'm a new flintlock owner myself. I just bought a used, unfired Lyman trade Rifle off GB. I haven't shot it yet and like you have flint questions. And like you I did knap out, well broke a couple of usable flakes since I haven't ordered any flints yet.

That sucker really sparks too. Even with my homemade rock. I am not sure if I am going to keep the gun. I haven't decided if I'm a FL shooter yet. I sure like my cap lock guns. So your post and the responses have answered some of my questions and the suggestions to you have helped me.

I also live in Tx and did pick up some flint a couple of months ago out in a mans field. But I cannot get it to break anything like I want it to. And I have watched several YT videos on knaping flint but it hasn't helped me.

And Loyalist Dave its good to see you here. I post as "ratshooter" over on TheHighRoad forum and just found this site.