Folks that don't know about flintlocks don't know how reliable they actually are, in fact a good custom made flintlock is more reliable than the factory made cap locks...

The flintlock was invented in France about 1600 and was very popular from1620-1840 or so...So it was used longer than any other ignition system...
Many old timers didn't trust percussion caps because they could always fashion a rock to fit in the hammer to make a flintlock work...

If you want the best flintlock today and have decent wood finishing skills take a look at...
www.flintlocks.com

These are the finest avaliable and many custom makers start with these parts....

Don't be intimidated when it comes to putting your own together, I did this in the 80s when there were no high quality kits like we have today...You'll notice that Jim Chambers has a DVD avaliable where he shows you how to assemble and finish his "kit"...There are also several books avaliable with the most popular probably being "The Gunsmith of Granville County"...

I'd pick up the book and DVD before deciding on what you want...Goerge Shumway also has many books that research the American Longrifle with "Rifles of Colonial America" being the most popular longrifle book among students...


Ok...Here is my version of an early North Carolina rifle...It's a .54...It took me 2 years and 200 hours to complete but when I received the barrel was inlet and the ramrod hole drilled...




And here is a Bob Watts made rifle (see Foxfire V) that I bought in Atlanta in 1977 for $475...I have been offered $3,000 for this gun...
It's an 1820s stlyled North Carolina rifle...It's a .40...