Flint won't spark

david w said:

If your frizzen is not opening all the way like illustrated in pic #3, your frizzen spring may be too stiff. There are other factors. Have you tried a different flint? Are you sure the flint is square with the frizzen? What are you using to pad the flint from the jaws?

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good call. I hadn't noticed that. yes that pan isn't open all the way.

Thanks for all of your replies, Guys. I think before I try to harden my frizzen I will try to replace it with an original or reproduction. I've tried Dixie, S&S, and TOTW for a replacement with no luck. Anyone have any other ideas on who might have one?

Macman said:

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I have a couple flintlock shooters at the range. I'll ask their advice on Thursday.

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Macman, what did your flintlock friends from the range advise?

Yes, they confirmed that the frizzen was too soft and suggested I replace it or harden it. I don't want to bugger up the original so I'll try replacing it first.

I would not mess with an original that is that nice. I would not "repair" it, I would not shoot it. It is 200 years old. Please reconsider?

Responding to Scota: I appreciate your thoughts and I would never destroy the value of the musket but all the fun in muzzle loading is in the fun you can have in firing an authentic 200 year old civil war musket.

Having said the above I'm still having a time getting a spark. Could be my flints. I've tried from two batches and no luck. Shouldn't I be able to get a spark by striking my flint against a file or a hacksaw blade?

Macman said:

Having said the above I'm still having a time getting a spark. Could be my flints. I've tried from two batches and no luck. Shouldn't I be able to get a spark by striking my flint against a file or a hacksaw blade?

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I knap all of my flints. for testing I have best results testing my flint material by striking them down the spine of a high carbon knife.(my hunting knife) that has a fairly wide spine.
unfortunately there are somany things that affect the spark relationship of a lock it turns into a trial and error thing.
but when it comes together one gets a Thomas Edison Ephinay. " i just learned 1000 ways it won't spark)

Frizzens are sometimes prone to rebounding and hitting the flint.

Shouldn't I be able to get a spark by striking my flint against a file or a hacksaw blade?

Macman said:

Shouldn't I be able to get a spark by striking my flint against a file or a hacksaw blade?

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It depends on how skilled you are with a flint and steel. I came up through Boy Scouts learning to strike a fire with a flint and steel. Watched a lot of people founder at it!

As a follow up to this thread I've finally got my frizzen to spark. A friend had some of the old compound and hardened it for me. I also bought a slightly larger flint and took it shooting yesterday. And to my surprise 3 of the 5 shots hit the target. What a thrill shooting a 205 year old flintlock that could have been last fired in the Civil War.

Another fine production gun.

Jess Melot at the rifle shoppe will have parts, dont know if they will fit.
You can do what I did decades ago. I bought his parts and retrofitted them to mine production gun.
They I got smart and built one.

I'm good now. I've got my original frizzen to spark. Don't need a replacement. Thanks.

Looking at your first picture it looked like the Flint was a little small. I guess your good to go now. Have Fun!!

Thanks. Yes, I enlarged my flint to 1" x 1-⅛". It fits better and reaches the frizzen at the proper height.