What type of flint for a Kibler's SMR?

[Grischi]

Actually, I use yellow flints 1" with the flat side down as shown on the photograph. The clearance between flint and frizzen is about 0.06".
I think they don't last that long. About 15 shots and they are dull.
So I wonder what type, size and orientation do you use in your Kibler's SMR and how many shots do you get from one flint?
Thank you for your support.

Christian

[83nubnEC]

I use 5/8"x3/4" Black English from TOW in my Kibler 32 cal SMR and have had good luck with them and multiple shots.

[Grischi]

I use 5/8"x3/4" Black English from TOW in my Kibler 32 cal SMR and have had good luck with them and multiple shots.

Thank you.
What is the clearence between flint and frizzen and how is the orientation of the flat side of the flint?
Can you maybe show a picture?

Christian

[MuskratMike]

In my Kibler SMR I use a 3/4 x 7/8 inch French amber flint. The one in this photo has been shot a couple of rounds. They normally sit about 3/16th of an inch from the frizzen +/- a 16th of an inch. Mine is a few years old and assembled by Jim himself. I normally get 25 to 35 shots per flint with a knapping somewhere in the middle, but have gotten as many as 40 shots from one flint. Flint is flat side down. When the flint starts to wear down (about the time I need to knap it) I insert a piece of round toothpick behind the flint to push it slightly forward.
Hope this is of help.
"Muskrat" Mike

[Grischi]

In my Kibler SMR I use a 3/4 x 7/8 inch French amber flint. The one in this photo has been shot a couple of rounds. They normally sit about 3/16th of an inch from the frizzen +/- a 16th of an inch. Mine is a few years old and assembled by Jim himself. I normally get 25 to 35 shots per flint with a knapping somewhere in the middle, but have gotten as many as 40 shots from one flint. Flint is flat side down. When the flint starts to wear down (about the time I need to knap it) I insert a piece of round toothpick behind the flint to push it slightly forward.
Hope this is of help.
"Muskrat" Mike

Thank you Mike.
This helps for sure. I considered a clearance of 3/16" as to much so far. But if it works for you. I will give it a try.

Christian

[83nubnEC]

I place my flints flat side down in Jims' newer lock and have roughly 3/16" clearance. Sparks sometimes reach floor or ground on hammer release.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I use both English black and French amber flints in my Kibler SMR, and install them bevel up/flat side down.  The closer you can mount them to the frizzen and still get it to close on the pan, the better.  This will ensure that the flint strikes as high on the frizzen as possible, giving the longest scrape and hottest sparks.  Like Mike, as the flit wears and is sharpened by knapping, I move the flint forward and place a twig behind the flint to help move it forward.  I sometimes get over a hundred shots out of a flint, sometimes only twenty...depends on the integrity of the stone.
When you knap your flint, remember that there is likely only a very small nub that is dull and is pushing the frizzen open without cutting a shower of sparks.  You don't have to knap the whole width of the stone, only the part that is causing the misfire.  So examine your flint carefully, determine where the issue is and knap that away.  Don't wipe off the flint with your thumb after knapping, unless you have a bandaid in your bag.

[Hungry Horse]

 I get the distinct feeling that some of us aren’t knapping our flints. I got 64 shots out of one black English flint by carefully knapping it with a knapping pin. Black or Amber flints shouldn’t make much difference in a Kibler lock.

 Hungry Horse

[Mike Brooks]

chert works good too.

[Grischi]

I get the distinct feeling that some of us aren’t knapping our flints. I got 64 shots out of one black English flint by carefully knapping it with a knapping pin. Black or Amber flints shouldn’t make much difference in a Kibler lock.

 Hungry Horse

You're right. The 15 shots were without knapping. I made two knapping pins out of allen key on Monday. Could test it on Tuesday and got my twenty shots (no time to shoot more) with knapping one time in between and the flint is still good for another day at the range.

Thank you all for your input.

Christian

[john bohan]

copper is the best for knapping your flint,antler works well also. Put the flint into some type of small vise with the leather around it bevel down ,chip off small flakes. A small step should be filed into the edge of the copper to set on the flint.

[Hungry Horse]

 Those knapping pins have too deep of a shoulder, you just want to nibble a new edge on the flint not shear it in half. And I don’t remove my flints from the cock either, just plug the vent if the gun is loaded stick the side of my finger under the flint for support and nibble a new edge on it. Takes about two minutes.

 Hungry Horse

[Grischi]

Those knapping pins have too deep of a shoulder, you just want to nibble a new edge on the flint not shear it in half. And I don’t remove my flints from the cock either, just plug the vent if the gun is loaded stick the side of my finger under the flint for support and nibble a new edge on it. Takes about two minutes.

 Hungry Horse

Thank you.
What depth of a shoulder do you suggest?
It may appear a bit deep in the picture but the depth is actually about 0.039". The pins have an overall lenght of 2.35".

Christian

[Hungry Horse]

 I think mine is about a 16th of an inch.

Hungry Horse

[Grischi]

I think mine is about a 16th of an inch.

Hungry Horse

Thank you again.
Well, I guess nothing is wrong with depth of the scholder on my pins?

Christian

[Daryl]

chert works good too.

I still have a whack of Rich's River Rocks. Gotta love em - best sparking "flints" I have used. They are VERY tough.

[Jerry]

Come on Jim Kibler chime in here. We need your opinion. Thanks!

[Bob Gerard]

One way I extend the life of a flint is to slightly turn it so it’s not striking flat faced against the frizzen. After several shots I may slightly angle the flint again. It works well for me and the flints last a good long time.
On my Kibler Colonial, however, I rarely need to angle the flints since it sparks like a mention shower and I do get upwards of 40 plus shots on an English flint. After that I may knap them a bit.