Working on a older Investarms flinter.

[mahd776]

Recently acquired a older Investarms Hawken style Flintlock that needed a bit of TLC. One of the stamps on the barrel is a AD which according to some listings would indicate a 1978 date of production. Bore is quite clean and bright. It appears someone has messed with this in the past. The breech plug while very close to lining up is off just enough that I can notice the lines between it and barrel are off a hair. Wonder if it came that way or someone has removed the breech plug in its past. Vent liner was homemade from a cutoff and drilled screw. So happens I had a extra vent liner for my Lyman GPR so was able to replace. Had to work at getting the old out and new one installed. Thinking possibly the homemade one was a 6x1 thread and should have been a 6x.75. Had to order a 6x.75 tap to refresh the threads which done the trick.

Two questions. Is it worth it to try and tweek the breech plug so the barrel lines are correct? I was under the impression that these rifles had a patent breech like the TC rifles. This one does not. Is this correct you think? Thanks!

 

[rafterob]

If, like the TC, the patent part of the breech is in the breech plug which includes the pan and or nipple snail. SO trying to tweek it should be ok. If the lines are just short of tightening you may be able to crank them even. If the lines are over torqued you may consider leaving it because loosening the plug would not be a great solution. You could potentially end up with some leakage.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Is it worth it to try and tweek the breech plug so the barrel lines are correct?

have you dropped an endoscope down to the breech to get an up close and personal view of where the two meet?

LD

 

[mahd776]

If, like the TC, the patent part of the breech is in the breech plug which includes the pan and or nipple snail. SO trying to tweek it should be ok. If the lines are just short of tightening you may be able to crank them even. If the lines are over torqued you may consider leaving it because loosening the plug would not be a great solution. You could potentially end up with some leakage.

Lines are just a hair short of matching. The breech does include the vent hole and powder cavity (for want of a better word). I do have vice blocks for octagon barrels

 

[mahd776]

have you dropped an endoscope down to the breech to get an up close and personal view of where the two meet?

LD

Do not have a endoscope but have been meaning to get one that works through smart phone. What would I be looking for inside the barrel where the barrel and breech meet?

 

[Loyalist Dave]

What would I be looking for inside the barrel where the barrel and breech meet?

A gap.
The breech plug lines are off so you can see they don't light up...right?.....so see if there is a gap between the edge of the breech and the barrel. IF there was/is one, over time BP fouling might have caused corrosion there and enlarged the gap. From what you describe, I'd say there isn't one, but you should look, I think.

LD

 

[sawyer04]

do have vice blocks for octagon barrels

My first barrel vise was a couple of two foot white oak boards, channeled somewhat for the barrel in a six inch blacksmiths vise. I made a wrench out of an old buggy axle.

 

[sawyer04]

Is it worth it to try and tweek the breech plug so the barrel lines are correct?

I would be interested to see if the plug was bottoming out in the barrel. and at the same time a fine opportune time to really look at the bore.

 

[Grenadier1758]

have you dropped an endoscope down to the breech to get an up close and personal view of where the two meet?

LD

There you go Dave, trying to get the facts to prove the best course of action.

Yes, you will be looking for a gap where the breech plug bottoms out on the threads in the barrel.

 

[Okie Hog]

Leave it alone.

 

[mahd776]

Clamped barrel in blocks. Laid into it with a big well fitting wrench. No movement either direction. Applied as much force as I dared. Going to order a endoscope as next step. Be interesting to see what I find!