AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Black Powder Shooting => Topic started by: BandeauRouge on December 06, 2025, 07:54:08 AM
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As im sitting here deciding to go flint based, something kicks me in the head. Flint selection.
Not of just the right material or type of material to stick in the jaws. But of the correct size or rock to use.
I've wondered what happens mechanically if say you put a piece of 1.5 x 1" musket Flint into a small lock that only needs a .5 x .5 size flint. Does it wear the lock out faster, does the lock stop having sufficient energy to open the frizzen and make sparks?
What happens if I stick a pistol flint into a musket, what can typically result from that?
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This issue is most just a matter of size. It's literally a matter of what will fit in a particular size lock and allow it to function appropriately. This is because there is a limited about of space between the front edge of the top jaw and the face of the frizzen when the cock is at half cock. When the cock is at half cock, the flint needs to stick out far enough from the jaws that the top jaw or jaw screw doesn't hit the frizzen when the cock swings forward and down. That's to say that the flint has to hit, obviously, or it's not gonna work. The flint also needs to be short enough that it doesn't touch the frizzen when the lock is a half cock and keep the frizzen from closing fully.
I might seem like you could put a longer flint in the jaws and then just put it on full cock when priming it, so as to have clearance for closing the frizzen. But it's not a safe solution. The half cock is designed for holding the cock while you are priming the pan, and putting it on full cock while you are priming the pan is asking for trouble. In the least, if it is accidentally released it can cut you. And of course it may also cause an accidental discharge. Furthermore, on some locks, the angle at which a long flint like that will hit the frizzen will be wrong, and the strike can sometimes just knock the frizzen open without making sparks. So the flint really needs to the right length, within certain minimums and maximums.
In a pinch you can sometimes use a smaller flint on a large gun by wedging a piece of hardwood in behind the flint, so as to push it out further. Conversely, you can sometimes use a larger flint in a small lock by knapping a notch in the back side of the flint so that it can slide a little further in. (This is easy to do by chewing a notch with the corner of a pair of plyers). But we are only talking about gaining a little wiggle room either way. Much more or less than what really fits and then the flint won't work. That's been my experience, anyway.
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Eric Bye wrote a good book about shooting flintlock guns. Covers everything.
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I tell everyone who is getting their first flintlock to buy the Eric Bye's book: "Flintlocks A Practical Guide for Their use and appreciation". I t covers everything you need to know on the care, maintenance, cleaning and shooting.
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Some places have it at affordable book cost. Amazon wants 70 for it.
So many um nutty people on sites give bad advice on flint selection.
I know people say things like 70 uses on a single flint, but only a few will be like "yeah it worked 10 times on my bess then broke so I put it on my Kentucky after re snapping for 30 shots. Now it's on my pistol for 10 sparks and going strong"
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A broken musket flint won’t fit on a rifle or pistol lock. Too thick. Not all sites on the internet are trustworthy sources of information.
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As per your question if a pistol flint will work in a musket, well, it could but who knows how long. Musket size flints are big and strong to fit in big and strong locks, and pistol flints are but wee little things in comparison. I don’t know the life expectancy of such an arrangement but I wouldn’t think it would be too long.
That are several charts that you can find that suggest which size flint would be best in a given lock.
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New at Abe’s books at $34.99
Flintlocks - a Practical Guide for Their Use and Appreciation by Eric a Bye
Dennis
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As im sitting here deciding to go flint based, something kicks me in the head. Flint selection.
Not of just the right material or type of material to stick in the jaws. But of the correct size or rock to use.
I've wondered what happens mechanically if say you put a piece of 1.5 x 1" musket Flint into a small lock that only needs a .5 x .5 size flint. Does it wear the lock out faster, does the lock stop having sufficient energy to open the frizzen and make sparks?
What happens if I stick a pistol flint into a musket, what can typically result from that?
Cut yerself a piece of hickory, shape like a flint & try dif lengths. That will get ya close.
Then try bevel Up & bevel Down.
But mots lock makers recommend the correct flint. They want you pleased with their product.