AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Black Powder Shooting => Topic started by: Chemman on March 14, 2020, 08:26:13 AM
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Went to the range and clacked off 10+ trigger pulls with no ignition. Decided the flint was dull. Tried a little makeshift napping and failed. Used a Cigarette butt as a matchlock, huge FAiL. Cigarette butt Finger blast and embedded powder residue resulting in puss flow fingers bad...
Just did not want to take home a loaded weapon.
IDK
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I’ve always thought it should have been called the “Do Not Touch Hole”!
Sorry too hear about your mishap, I use a simple brass rod too pressure flake my flints.
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In a pinch turn your flint around 180 degrees. Many sorts of tools will restore an edge to a flint. The thing is practice.
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As Rich said there are almost as many knapping tools as shooters. Mine is a brass wedge removal tool that I filed a small notch in. I like the texture of the grip as it seems my fingers are always a little greasy from patches. Many free item are probably lying around your work bench.
(https://i.ibb.co/Z1Qd6NY/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BKhLVwr)
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I prime with a brass charger with the plunger that dispense a fixed charge. Knapp with the bottom of the charger.
Dale H
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Sorry about your fingers.
Where was your ball puller?
You could probably have just moved the flint forward in the jaws a little. Mine did that the other day. It was clacking and opening the frizzen/pan, but no spark. I only let that happen twice. Then I slid the flint and leather forward and stuck a bit of one of the round thick toothpicks behind it. I got at least 5 more shots, then kidnapped with the frizzen and got 5 more. I was done for the day at that point.
What tool you use will depend on what technique you like. Pressure flaking or percussion flaking. A piece of brass with a tiny notch cut in it, like shown above, or a bit of antler time that comes to a dull point, are both great for pressure flaking. One of those little brass knapping hammers is great for percussion.
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I use the frizzen knapping method. Always handy and nothing extra to lose.
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I made a combination tool using a piece of copper and a piece of drill rod to fashion a knapping hammer/turn screw. Here's some pics that explain far better than words.
(https://i.ibb.co/R2QBZLY/DSCN5333.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dBkL1nj)
(https://i.ibb.co/47GFx7G/DSCN5566.jpg) (https://ibb.co/R9mgW9m)
(https://i.ibb.co/CmDMnKY/DSCN5571.jpg) (https://ibb.co/q7VWRYc)
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I use a notched nail. Tap it with a ballstarter or anything that's handy. Works a trick.
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I've started using a small diamond file to touch up flints. takes a while but removes very little flint and flints last longer. easier to do at home watching a movie but works in the field too. At home I use a cheepy diamond hone from Harbor freight.
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Depends on the rifle I'm shooting...
The ball starter on my .32 has a 5/16 brass rod for the long let, so I use that. Just a light tap will knap off fine flakes.
Last time I shot my 45 the flint got dull and I didn't have anything in my bag... So I scrounged around the pickup and found an old 16 penny nail. It worked ok so I stuck it in the bag. Should get me by until I find something better.
I haven't got that far with my smoothbore yet. I'll see if there's another nail in the bed of the truck I guess.
Mike
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Cut nail with a notch cut in it.
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I decided to take a look and see what tools are available...
Track carries the little brass hammer with a forged handle and also the Pickering tool...
Thoughts on each item?
Mike
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I made a combination tool using a piece of copper and a piece of drill rod to fashion a knapping hammer/turn screw. Here's some pics that explain far better than words.
Don't want to derail this thread but a question for Taylor. Are these the same fotos you posted in the tutorial on knapping flints? I don't see any fotos when reading that post and know they would be helpful for me in learning your technique.
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I'll check the tutorial. I thought I'd fixed all mine. Yes, same tool and same photos.
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I cannot find the tutorial I did on flintknapping....OD: can you post the link here? I'll restore all the images then.
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I made a combination tool using a piece of copper and a piece of drill rod to fashion a knapping hammer/turn screw. Here's some pics that explain far better than words.
(https://i.ibb.co/R2QBZLY/DSCN5333.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dBkL1nj)
(https://i.ibb.co/47GFx7G/DSCN5566.jpg) (https://ibb.co/R9mgW9m)
(https://i.ibb.co/CmDMnKY/DSCN5571.jpg) (https://ibb.co/q7VWRYc)
Taylor did you pour lead inside the copper pipe for weight and to hold the shank in place?
Mike
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I use a deer antler tine to pressure flake.
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I find that knapping the flint while it's in the cock jaws is easiest for me. At times I've used a knife blade or just any hard object to knap. Years ago I made up tool that I've used ever since.
(https://i.ibb.co/t8NdG65/PICT0576-1-1.jpg)
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I just use the side of a steel or brass rod, nothing fancy.
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A friend made this and gave it to me. Works great. I used to use a knapping hammer but that knocks off bigger pieces of flint than I like. This one takes little gnat bites out of the flint. The little extension lines it up, then smack it with your short-starter or screwdriver handle.
(https://i.ibb.co/wLWKZwy/100-1817.jpg) (https://ibb.co/g7TDbPy)
(https://i.ibb.co/DY2Sn5L/100-1822.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dtYzyG7)
-Ron
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Just a note, most of the times when I notice I need to knap my flint is when it's loaded but doesn't go off. That's why my tool is brass. Knapping a loaded gun with a steel tool could result in an unwelcome outcome.
-Ron
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I usually use the corner of the plunger on my measure. A few light taps will put an edge on the flint.
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My-Flinter: that might just be the neatest napping tool I've seen. Hope you don't mind if the "Muskrat" pilfers your idea?
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I use the back side of my pocket knife and just tap the edge a few times.
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I cannot find the tutorial I did on flintknapping....OD: can you post the link here? I'll restore all the images then.
Taylor, here is the link and your lucky #13 post. However, I did find the fotos embedded in another (maybe original) post. ***I just fixed the photos*** Dennis
Thanks, OD Out.
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=5590.msg52680#msg52680
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My-Flinter: that might just be the neatest napping tool I've seen. Hope you don't mind if the "Muskrat" pilfers your idea?
Dixie Gun Works sells a knapper just like the one KY-Flinter is showing.
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Yeah, it's not my idea. A friend made it and gave it to me. I wasn't aware Dixie offered them. They are very simple to make.
-Ron
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While examining an old bullet mold I was donating to the local museum, I discovered that one side of the bag mold had considerable impact damage. After re-examining it under magnification I became convinced that it had been used as a knapping tool for a flintlock. Have any of you found similar evidence of this?
Hungry Horse
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Thanks for the link. I removed the photobucket mess and replaced all the pics with uncorrupted ones from my files.
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Thanks for the link. I removed the photobucket mess and replaced all the pics with uncorrupted ones from my files.
Thanks Taylor and Dennis ... perfect now!
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Well, I don’t have a picture of my napping tool, but, it just a 1/2” piece of mild steel square stock dressed off to a cross pean on one end and left square on the other, with a 1/4” bolt threaded into it for a handle. I did make an antler tine handle to cover the bolt shank. I know it bigger than most, and iron instead of brass, or copper, but it works great, and I don’t have to reshape it all the time. After trying to get many modern flintlocks to shoot that had mild steel, or iron frizzens I figured it wasn’t likely my mild steel hammer was going to set anything off.
Hungry Horse
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While examining an old bullet mold I was donating to the local museum, I discovered that one side of the bag mold had considerable impact damage. After re-examining it under magnification I became convinced that it had been used as a knapping tool for a flintlock. Have any of you found similar evidence of this?
Hungry Horse
That's pretty interesting.
If it was in fact used to knap the flint then that means it was probably carried afield in the bag... by one shooter anyway.
Mike
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Anything not brass is dangerous to knap with unless the gun is unloaded. I have a bunch of old brass hinge pins that I use. Small, light and acts like a hammer. You can also file the long end into a screw driver.
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I think nobody has shown this type yet. It’s a brass or bronze bolt, the kind that sometimes comes with furniture you assemble at home.
I swipe the threads down and across the edge. It takes micro flakes across the edge of the flint. For a stubborn “shiner” I use the notched tip to punch downward when rapped with anything handy. It doubles as a tumbler punch.
(https://i.ibb.co/ZzWJYbN/8-A4-E92-EE-E9-D9-4-FE4-90-EC-6098-E8592908.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Jj5dySC)
(https://i.ibb.co/Fz8DTsj/6-C699671-63-B2-4815-A324-394-FA57-C4-BE7.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2dck48f)
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On my 58 caliber flintlock rifle I knapped the flint with the back side of a Case
folding hunting knife.Worked fine.I still have it but not the gun.
Bob Roller
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Great idea Rich, a multi task tool.
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When I first made up my "Gunner's Mate" tool, I specifically planned for the handle of the vent pick to be used for knapping a flint. With the assembled tool held like a little hammer, it worked great but you had to use very light taps to keep from knocking off too much of the flint edge. Then after reading of some others using just a short length of brass rod, I took the "T" handle off the Gunner's Mate and bounced the handle of the vent pick on the flint edge. It works very well.
With just the "T" handle, and not the whole "hammer" arrangement, it is easier not to overdo the knapping and knock off too much of the edge. But if you need heavier blows for a particular flint, the hammer arrangement works great as well.
The fully assembled tool used as a knapping hammer:
(https://i.ibb.co/7XSyP6b/IMG-9435.jpg) (https://ibb.co/47FNz5J)
Just the "T" handle portion used as a lighter knapping tool:
(https://i.ibb.co/x3DFZBZ/IMG-9436.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nRbPpYp)
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I made a copper flaker like one would knap arrowheads with, it works well.
(https://i.ibb.co/ry7XrJC/flint-knapper.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WKxRJ1b)
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This is turning out to be a really informative thread for posterity.
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I know an Older than me Gentlemen that uses a kitchen butter knife,
He uses the blade edge and lightly taps it across the flints edge.
I e used my pocket knife and hunting knife in the same manner.. in Pinch.
I Forgot my flint wallet....😠
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I feel like I have been a real neophyte, in my 18 years of shooting flintlocks I have never knapped a flint. Most of my shooting has been using a Chambers Siler which easily goes 40 shots without knapping,or a Chambers late Ketland which goes even longer without knapping. I save the old ones thinking I might knapp them later but have never gotten around to it.
Now I have had other locks that would quit firing after 10-15 shots and if I had known how to Knapp them I would have tried but most were early on with me using flintlocks.
Maybe I should learn how to knapp those flints. I have a pile of worn out ones around here somewhere.
Dennis
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I usually don’t have too knap my flints, unless it starts wearing uneven from twisting in the jaws.
I usually start with a new flint before shooting in competition, but always klatch it a couple of times tosee if it’s going too shatter.
I’ve saved all my old ones too, I take a Dremel tool with the green grinding rock and rework the edge.
With proper Safety.equipment of coarse.
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Wow what a bunch of great replies, thanks guys.
I took a brass rod and used my watchmakers lathe to create a shoulder to flake small chips with the ball of a ball starter. It worked very good but the flint I think is not so good quality. It looks like Chert.
(https://i.ibb.co/CK3MrPm/20200317-203653.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7tdR9kj)
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When "just shootin" I use my flints up until it's just a nub. When it gets too short I shim it with a sliver of wood. I have several pieces of brass of different sizes for various requirements for napping gunflints.
As for a loaded rifle and a dull flint that should be avoided. I never let my flint get to the condition that if it doesn't spark once, it will the second time. After that shot it is napped again and I start all over. Wiping the edge of the flint and frizzen face with alcohol removes oil and fouling and sometimes allows a dull flint to cut just enough to spark and fire the weapon. If you just can't make it spark and shoot then stick a toothpick in the touch hole before trying to sharpen a dull flint.
For hunting I pick a good flint and nap it like a razor, it's good all season for deer and turkey. After season I remove it and store it with other hunting flints for next season.
Given time I like a fairly short piece of 3/8" round brass with a couple of steps ground into the end. I support the flint in the cock with a finger and holding the brass with other fingers of the supporting hand I tap the brass with a small hammer until the edge suits me. Doing it this way can be a little awkward until you get the hang of it.
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I like the simplicity of some of these tools and how they wouldn’t take up much room in your bag. Or better yet, the dual purpose options. Here are two that I have. The one on the right with the screwdriver blade I picked up in a trade sometime back. The one on the left is an original I bought at an auction. Both have non-sparking brass heads. The original also has a brass handle.
(https://i.ibb.co/Zzy6xV9/130-D90-C7-AC33-4-AF3-AAF7-2-F5416-A823-F5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8gFD90k)
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I can attest that David Crisalli's Gunners Mate works great as a knapping hammer. I also have one of the standard screwdriver/hammer combo tools in my range box. God Bless, Marc
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How about this one.
(https://i.ibb.co/wLyjnxJ/DSCF0039.jpg) (https://ibb.co/z5sD308)
(https://i.ibb.co/s9q0Wb5/DSCF0038.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fdHhDq8)
Must confess, we are really getting cabin fever!!
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Molly, that looks like a high production model. :)
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Yep, you can nap a bolder with it!!
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Mine looks like a flat, one-piece metal turnscrew, because it is. Takes up no room at all and has always worked.
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Thinking through this a bit, as folks have mentioned, I most often need to nap with the firearm loaded, and I’d imagine most napping was done historically with an iron hammer, turn screw or knife blade, I can see another important reason for feather holes or tapered vent picks....
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Feather holes, now where did I see a video recently about this? I try and get the 'ol girl to fire by wiping flint and frizzen with alcohol. Then after it has fired I clean up the flint with a brass tool, but that's just me.
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Feather holes, now where did I see a video recently about this? I try and get the 'ol girl to fire by wiping flint and frizzen with alcohol. Then after it has fired I clean up the flint with a brass tool, but that's just me.
:)
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2 different napping tools I use.
The second one also works well and is used in a prying motion.
The base of your frizzen on English flints by lining it up on the edge of the flint and pushing down.
(https://i.ibb.co/HqwPZKn/Knap1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7KMphS2)
(https://i.ibb.co/hZ1S20x/Knapping-Tool.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2sYTcJ0)
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I shoot frontier style all the time out of my pouch and do not even own a ball starter. I carry the bare minimum.
To nap a flint I go to half cock, put my LH index finger under the flint edge to support it and use the back of my belt knife to tap the flint's edge. Takes a little practice but works great.