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Post by rs on Jan 22, 2008 12:16:06 GMT -4
I have never had any problems getting good spark using leather to hold the flint but never tried lead. Like longhunter already said, thinner leather strips seem to work work best. I use English flints in my custom guns with Jim Chambers locks and the cut German agate in my Thompson Pa. Hunter, bevel up for the Chambers and bevel down for the Thompson. ;D I have to agree , i was not haveing any spark problems with the leather , i thought maybe i could make it even better with lead , ;D guess i should abide by if it aint broke dont fix it.
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Post by loggy on Jan 22, 2008 20:15:07 GMT -4
Lead could give ya that slight milli-second bump in ignition speed though.. to make the difference... due to more spark!! ;D
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Post by tomcat on Jan 22, 2008 21:56:46 GMT -4
I apologize for getting off topic with the bevel thing. The short answer is the same as leather vs. lead, whatever works best for you. Bevel down results in a longer flint/frizzen contact distance so will produce more sparks with some locks. Sometimes bevel down is necessary to open the frizzen since the flint will strike higher on the frizzen surface and thus produce more leverage. Experiment both ways, each lock is different and each English flint is shaped different if that's what you use, touch her off (unloaded of course, I once saw a friend's gun discharge while he was checking the spark while loaded but no powder in pan) in a dark room and observe the sparks. They should roll around in the pan. Whichever way produces the most sparks and opens the frizzen everytime is what you want. The flint should be pointed directly into the pan when it stops indicating where the sparks were directed.
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onager
lodge member
Posts: 244
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Post by onager on Jan 23, 2008 14:25:04 GMT -4
Thanks! I was the bad boy who encouraged you off topic.
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Post by loggy on Jan 23, 2008 14:34:45 GMT -4
Thanks! I was the bad boy who encouraged you off topic. :)Hey, A OK to get off topic...as long bout MLers!!! Some great info many times comes from those sideways drifts!!! ;D
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Post by zimmerstutzen on Jan 23, 2008 15:14:02 GMT -4
Lead is good if the lock is not subjected to wide temperature swings. Between the metal jaws, and flint and lead, all expanding and contracting, lead can become loose. On the other hand, leather tends to give and take with temps and humidity. Lead is certainly a traditional material for that purpose. I have acquired several pounds of thin lead sheet and it is too thin at about 1/64 of an inch. around 3/32 to 1/8 is better for holding flints.
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Post by longhunter on Feb 1, 2008 16:44:18 GMT -4
Regarding the position of the flint. All of my flinters prefer bevel up as do most of my friends and fellow reenactors. I haven't seen too many that prefer bevel down except, as Strasbaugh said, to kick the frizzen open faster. You're going to have to experiment but then again, that's the fun part. One thing is for sure. After you've smelled the sulfur it gets in your veins and there's no going back. Longhunter
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