flints?

[BambiSlayer]

Longshot, How do you like your blueridge flinter? Is it a good shooter and what kind of accuracy do you get?

 

[rev_jch]

Thanks for everyone's replies! Much appreciated!!

Longshot, I almost bought the blue ridge, but decided to go with the kentucky. It was a money thing (could not spend too much). The lock on the kentucky is considerably smaller so I do not know what size to use yet. I did order some different flints from TOW so I'll see what works.

 

[frontloader]

My blue ridge is in 45cal .Ihad to a little bit of tuning on it. I open the vent a little,thined the vent, clen up the frizzen, I get about 2in groups at 50yds. I'm still trying different patch&ball combos. It look better all the time. The more i shot the better it gets.

 

[Myra lou]

Stumpy thanks for the information on the flintlock, I printed a copy so I can go back to it.......john......

 

[Bluegrass]

Harden with a propane torch and quick water quench.

Stumpy,(Can I call ya that? :winking how do I go about hardening my flint awl. Should I heat it red hot, or just heat it up pretty good? Is it really that important that my flint awl is hardened? ::

 

[musketman]

Here is a temper chart to aid you in stumpy's answer...

 

[musketman]

I was wondering what kind of flints should I use for my cabela's (pedersoli) kentucky rifle? English or American.

I suggest that you use real flints like this, you won't regret it... :winking:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Bluegrass,

It will serve you longer if it is hardened, but it is not necessary. I have one that is brass (non-sparking, a just-in-case safety thought) but it needs to be dressed back into shape with a file occasionally. The tribes around the Great Lakes used copper awls to flake arrowheads and knives. Anything that concentrates a lot of pressure in a small area.

If using an old file: Heat it red, allow it to cool slowly, then shape it, then heat it red again and quench it (If you quench it in oil be ready for a flame up).

 

[tg]

If you are into pressure flaking like the natives mentioned above a softer material is preferable as it will hold on the edge of the flint or obsidian and not slip off, for percussion work harder material will serve well.

 

[leadball]

were do you get the real flints. my local store and cabelas do not have them

 

[GobblerKnob]

Leadball, If you log onto the Track of the Wolf website, you'll find 'em there. I have a .45 Blueridge and absolutely love it! Of the first 3 shots out of the box, two were touching and the third almost touched the others. This was from a bench at 50 yards with 60 grains of 3F. The only modification I had to make was to open up the ventliner just a tad. Enjoy!

 

[roundball]

Best price I've found for Tom Fuller knapped black english flints has been at "October Country".
John & Linda will sell bulk bags of 25/50/100, etc, and the more you buy, the lower the unit cost...depending on the size of the order, I've gotten 3/4" flints in the .69-.75 cents range...average 40-60 shots/flint

 

[Stumpkiller]

A word of caution on the 100 count "bulk bags". There is a 10% or greater cull factor for flints that are a bit irregular. I would HIGHLY recommend that if you go this route you get one or two of the abrasive wheels mentioned in the following thread in this forum (click on the link):

Rescuing "humpie" flints

It's still worth it for a bulk buy even with the culls, but the wheel will result in almost 100% useable flints.