Has anyone ever tried using a file to knapp their flints?

~Robert

I've tried about every thing you can use.. so far I have not learned the secret of knapping flints, but I keep trying. There are knapping tools you can make at home that would work better then a file. They are made out of a large nail by cutting an upside down L onto the nose of the nail. You then angle the nail to the flint in the tail of the L and give it light taps to flake off very small shards of flint.

Other do their knapping with a knife. Some use a brass rod. Some use a muzzy wheel on a cordless dremel tool. Like I said, I an no expert. I break more then I actually knapp.. but I am learning and that is the beauty of flintlocks.. always something new to learn.

What is a "muzzy wheel?"

I bought the flintlock "tool" kit from October Country. Its the one with the vent pick, brush pan and knapping hammer. I guess the idea is to put the beveled edge of the hammer against the flint and then tap it with something else....?

~Robert

That's the general idea of the knapping hammer which to be perfectly honest, I have had very little luck with. I use the knapping hammer as my tapper with the nail tool that I made.

A mizzy wheel is a grinding disk that does not produce as much heat as many of the other grinding stones. As you know if you heat a flint and strike it, it will shatter do when shaping I guess the whole idea is to not heat the flint up anymore then you have to.

I was taking my knife edge (as roundball explained to me) and then taking the knapping hammer and striking the knife very light. So light in fact it is hard to see if anything really came off the flint. The real test of course is if the edge is returned.

Also as you know, never knapp a flint on a loaded rifle. Many people knapp right in the jaws of their rifle and if you knapp right, you will produce a spark.

http://www.americanjewelrysupply.com/products/abrasives/mizzy.html

Cayugad: thanks! Guess I will just have to experiment some more to see what works.

Here is a picture of the action on my Traditions 50 cal Shenandoah.

~Robert

That's a nice looking rifle. I have a couple Tradition rifles although they are all cap lock. They also work excellent. I at one time was trying to buy a Tradition's PA Pellet but the deal kind of fell through. The person first promised one style then when I agreed they said that was gone but would send me a blued barrel instead. I wanted the nickel or stainless steel model and refused to settle for something different when that was not what was agreed to..

So I bought a Thompson Center Hawkins instead and have been very happy with that rifle. The lock time of the flintlock is excellent and it is a great shooting rifle without a doubt....

Cayugad: you did the right thing. I don't want to say it was classic bait and switch, but I'm glad that you ended up with the rifle you wanted.

~Robert

Well I agree.. the Thompson Center Hawkins Flintlock has been an excellent shooting rifle so far. And actually with a new Tom Fuller Black English Flint the rifle is real dependable. I was shooting it a few weeks ago when it was "misting and trying to rain" just for the experience of shooting in the wet weather. I found that if you cock it under the cow knee and then flip that off and shoot ASAP the rifle fired every time. I then would wipe the fizzen, flint, and pan out with some alcohol patches and reload and it just kept going off....

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.........