Sharpening dull flints....

[Adam Helmer]

I read an article recently about how a fellow sharpens dull flints on a big whetstone. I have a few whetstones and gave it a try and find it does work.

Yesterday at the backyard bench the .54 Hawken just went "thud" repeatedly when I pulled the trigger. I removed the dull flint, gave it a dozen swipes on the whetstone, reinstalled it and got 19 more shots out of it. I never got the knack of knapping with an iron tool. The whetstone works and gives me a nicer even edge that recycles dull flints.

If you have a dull flint, try to restore it on a whetstone before you toss it out.

Adam

[Skinny Shooter]

Hi Adam, I've got a whetstone wheel and it seems like a good idea. But when at the range or while hunting I don't need to remove the flint when it dulls. I make a flintlock tool which doubles as a screwdriver and a flint chipper.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/skinnyshooter/FlintlockTool2.jpg

Hold by the blade end and lightly tap the flint with the rounded handle. Works great.

[Duffy]

Skinny Shooter:

I checked out your website, and I have a couple questions for you. You might be able to help me out with something, I'm looking for these:

http://www.furnacecreekforge.com/files/ProductImages/Hooks/3_S_Hooks_3.jpg

I'll send you an email. Thanks.

[Skinny Shooter]

Thanks Duffy I'll look for your email. I'll have that and a bottle opener to make for GOB. :)
The website is a bit muddled right now and am trying to get it straightened out with a new look.

[Joe Boleo]

Flints are so cheap that replacing them as needed makes a lot of sense. I use old English flints and have used the same ones for a long time. Eventually, they wear down and it is merely time to replace them. Take care...
Joe

[Adam Helmer]

Joe,

Toss those dull English flints my way-I will put a nice edge on them. How cheap do you get them? The are $3 each here, when they can be found.

Adam

[roundball]

I'll shoot a 50 shot range session on a 3/4" Tom Fuller black english flint, then usually get about halfway through the next Saturday range trip before I replace it...will have knapped it 2-4 times during those 60-75 shots...clean them and toss them into a jar.

Every now and them if I'm rained in or something, I'll sit down with a diamond cutting wheel in my dremel tool and cut a new bevel slope on them...takes about one minute per flint, and I'll get another 50 shot range session out of them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/roundball/A%20-%20Muzzleloading/DiamondCutterWheel.jpg

[Adam Helmer]

roundball,

Thanks for the information.

I get a better usable edge from my whetstones than I will ever knap from a dull flint.

I appreciate knapping skills, but I cannot get the hang of that art.

Adam

[skeet]

What Joe said. too cheap to worry about it... or use a cap lock!!:D :D Just messin with ya guys:eek:

[roundball]

On a related note, Tom Fuller retired last year and turned over his black english flint business to a long time worker or a son, not sure which...but in talking with places like Cain's Outdoor in West Va., the owner said he's left phone messages and sent Emails wanting to submiut another bulk order for flints and the guy has yet to return his calls or email.

When I heard Fuller was getting ready to retire I bought 750 3/4" x 7/8" BEFs so there would be no question I'd have a supply for years to come. I've seen privately owned well established businesses go right down the drain not long after being taken over from the original independent owner...or sold out to a big company or something and things are never the same.

Just making the point that we might find ourselves in a situation where either BEFs become really very expensive or at times even unavailable so I at least save my used ones...have a couple hundred that can be resurfaced easily if I want/need to.

As an anology, look what's happended to the price of lead in the past 2 years...