i also tried alot of ways myself for my TC hawken......i can repsharpen a flint and geta few extra shots from it....but thats about it.......just by tapping it with the back of a heavy knife i have....i use only the best black english flints i can find......and hand pick them all......they spark awesome.......and for a buck or so a piece i pay i really dont care if i only get 15-20-50 shots from it......figuring what i pay for premium 3006 loads flinting is still alot cheaper then that.......and getting it to fire anytime is no problem......alot of lock work and hand picked SHARP flints keep it going......i dont hunt with a flint that ive fired more then once....just so i know when i do goto fire it sparks are going to FLY.........wet weather isnt a worry or problem.....i do the same thing as cayugad..keep it under the cows knees...and cock it when im ready to fire and unlatch it from the lock as well....kinda one move...and drop the cows knee and let it rip........it also goes off no problem upside down.........