armymedic.2 said:
what is the purpose of heating the tail after you have already tempered it in the oven?
The tail and the screw hole take a LOT of abuse, so they need to be a little softer to prevent breakage.
Since the area around the screw hole is relatively thin, it may absorb carbon to the full depth of the steel, so the area around that screw MAY, or may not, become 1095 steel to full depth. Most breakage on frizzens seems to occur around the screw, so that area needs to be a little softer.
Steve,
Sometimes one needs to work from experience. And in my experience, frizzens made by Petersoli are of mild steel.
Frizzens on quality American made locks are made of 1095, high carbon steel, as reported by the manufacturers.
The tempering of the tail and area around the screw is even more important on a frizzen made of 1095, than one made of case hardened mild steel.
Determining what steel Frizzens are made of on foreign made locks is a manure shoot. One never really knows what he may be working with, though most appear to be made of low or medium carbon steels.
The best way for someone with no access to a lab to get an idea of the carbon content of a part is the spark test. Hit the part on a grinder and look at the sparks. Dull red sparks indicate a low carbon steel. Amber or white sparks, especially those that sparkle on the end indicate high carbon steel.
Generally speaking, the whiter the spark, and the more intense the sparkles, the higher the carbon content.
When in doubt, harden and temper as if you have a part made of high carbon steel.
If the frizzen is still too soft after the "normal" heat treating, case harden.
J.D.