Worse flint ever?

[rich pierce]

Flints can and do break and often the knapper will be completely unaware of an internal flaw. It's part of the game when using flintlocks instead of percussion. The biggest "operator" cause of broken flints is that a flint is loose in the jaws. If it twists at all without the shooter noticing, it will break on the next shot.

If anyone has a lock that sometimes breaks flints no matter how careful they are, they should select or ask for thicker flints with a steeper angle to the edge. No, they won't stay sharp as long but a broken flint puts a gun out of commission for a bit.

I've sometimes had customers tell me that their lock "likes real thin flints" then later tell me, "your flints seem a little fragile sometimes". :hmm: I always select flints for the lock depending on how easy or hard it is on flints.

 

[ebiggs1]

I completely agree that the flint must be held securely in the jaws of your lock.
One reason this is difficult is some flints have irregular surfaces. This jig for my diamond tile saw corrects this problem and makes the flint perfectly parallel.

They end up looking like this.

They can be clamped in the cock's jaws securely, easily, with no worry of the flint moving.

 

[spudnut]

I gave a buddy of mine a chunk of clay bird in a fire startin contest once :haha: