Picking

[Old Scout]

I pick my flints with a pc of 1/4" drill rod about 4" long.

[Adam Helmer]

Old Scout,

Can you describe your "picking process?"

Adam

[Old Scout]

I shoot flint Muskets. I mount the flint bevel down, flat side up. When I have a miss fire, you can usually see a smooth shinney spot on the sharp edge of the flint. Gently tapping the top edge with a pc of steel, this spot will flake off leaving a sharp edge.
Useta use the same method with smaller sporting locks. Did that make any sense?

Old Scout

[Adam Helmer]

Old Scout,

Many thanks; yes, your process does make sense to me.

Adam

[DogYeller]

Scout, I do the same thing but I use my knapping hammer.

[Old Scout]

Dog yeller
Indeed, the Knapping hammer works fine also. In simplfying my "Kit", the drill rod pc also serves as a handle for a couple other tools. In a pinch I've used my fire steel to pick the flint.

Adam
When you pick off a little spot that won't spall off as sparks, it leaves a slight notch in the flint edge. Not a problem as the rest of the edge is able to bear on the battery. A couple shots and the edge is back to where you picked it.
Most of my flinter shooting now a days is with pretty heavy locks, but the idea is the same. If you have a sharp flint, adjusted to strike about 1/3 down the battery, and a really hard battery face, then you are gonna get a shower of sparks. If the touch hole is correctly located, she'll fire fast and every time.

Cheers
Old Scout