Two Questions for Longhunters?

[roundball]

Originally posted by Adam Helmer
roundball,

Very nice picture. Is that Bevel Down in the photo? I just checked two of my flinters with a bulge atop the flint like in your picture and I think a 180 degree rotation of the flint and leather shim will move the sharp edge of the flint more Bevel Up. I could be wrong, but see if the edge moves up higher on the frizzen in conformity with your starting point.

Adam

That's bevel up in the photo...the bevel really refers to the "slope" on one side of a flint...in the photo, the flat side is down, with the slope or bevel side up.

A new 3/4"wide (x 7/8"L) BEF in a TC lock performs best when it's bevel up...and when at half cock with the edge of the flint almost touching the frizzen, the angle of the flint will have a very slight downward angle to it so when it hits the frizzen it'll have a downward shaving/slicing angle...you don't want a flint hitting the frizzen face square...breaks flints, shortens flint life, etc.

Then when the flint has worn shorter (30-40 shots or so) and starts hitting lower and lower on the frizzen, flip it over in the jaws so the bevel is down...this moves the edge of the flint a little higher up to compensate for it having worn shorter...and it will again hit the frizzen back up a little higher in a more optimum location.