flintlock pistol - fire start

[Elkeater]

Please share fire starting experience with pistol. :shocked2: Of course with an empty barrel

 

[F.G. Ford]

Easy to do!
Prime your pan with a little too much powder, turn your pistol lock side up, rest your tinder on the pan.
When you pull the trigger the tinder will light, but you have to be quick to get it to the fire material.
Do be sure the barrel is empty, and pointing safely away.
Fred

 

[Elkeater]

Thanks Fred
Powder, a little tinder then close the frizzen?

 

[George]

I simply use the lock on either pistol or long gun as flint and steel. I place a piece of charcloth over the empty pan, arranged in such a way that the touchhole is blocked, close the frizzen and fire the lock. Sparks will light the cloth, and then I put it into my tinder bundle and blow it into flame, as usual.

I have been doing this for a long time, I do it almost always with a loaded gun, and I've never had it fire. I wouldn't do it with a loaded gun if I was in camp, etc.

Spence

 

[Elkeater]

Thank you Spence
Would a little stub of toothpick get in the way?

 

[George]

Do you mean one used to block the touchhole? No, it wouldn't, but the way I do it, it's not necessary.



Spence

 

[Elkeater]

Yes Spence
Thanks for the pic

 

[inlikeflint]

50 years ago I put together a 16 ga muzzle loading pistol. I used to shoot rats along the mississippi with it. I used to use toilet paper for wadding. When ever I shot over dry grass I had a fire to put out!

A week ago things haven't changed that much, I had a fire to put out when I used paper towels for wadding when proof testing a new barrel!

 

[JN01]

No need to risk setting off the main charge. Simply remove the lock before using it as a tinder lighter.

 

[George]

If I were going to that much trouble, I'd just use flint and stel. :grin:

Spence

 

[F.G. Ford]

Flint & steel?
Why didn't I think of that?
Yeah, a Bic lighter :grin:
Fred

 

[SAJones]

That's the way I've done it, only with the rifle unloaded. Years ago read a piece about colonial homes with bullet holes around the fireplace as a sort of proof that it was done "back then". So I definitely would not risk it with a loaded firearm.

 

[kopfjaeger]

I have used a flintlock rifle and smoothbore to light charcloth, but never tried a pistol. Properly because I don't own a flintlock pistol " yet ". :wink:

 

[kopfjaeger]

Flint & steel?
Why didn't I think of that?
Yeah, a Bic lighter :grin:
Fred

Ferrocerium rods work good. :stir:

 

[Heelerau]

Does my zippo count as a flint and steel?

 

[Wes/Tex]

Does my zippo count as a flint and steel?

Semi-indirectly! :wink: