bending frizzen spring finial

[elk killer]

i want to bend the spring finial,,its on a large left hand Siler,,
its pointed to high for what i wanted to do with this lock,,
can i just heat and bend it??....or....??

[Acer Saccharum]

If you can quick spot heat it, you may be able to do it without changing the temper on the rest of the spring.

This is what I would do:
Grip the spring right behind the screw boss with your pliers to act as a heat sink. Heat and bend the finial, and quench. polish bright, then re heat that area to a bright temper blue.

Tom

[elk killer]

thanks Tom
worked perfectly

[Jim Chambers]

I would suggest getting some heat stop paste from Brownell's.  By packing the heat stop between and on the upper and lower leaf of the spring, you can heat the finial, bend it, or forge it to whatever shape you want without hurting the temper in the rest of the spring.  I've done this several times.

[elk killer]

thanks Jim..
by the way,,there is nuthng wrong with this flintlock
just changing the shape is all...

[Jim Chambers]

Yep, I've done that several times over the years.