ROCK EATER

[jeff birkey]

What are some ways to adjust a "Davis French Fusil" lock from eating flints?


Thanks
Jeff

[alex e.]

I build with that lock quite frequently and have not had that problem. Extremely heavy trigger pull is a problem though,almost on every one.

Maybe you have a not so great flint/s.It does have a strong mainspring.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I built a fusil around one of those locks, and it's on its third frizzen right now...sparks like a cutting torch and not at all hard on flints.
So, how are you holding the flint in the cock?  Between good leather or between lead?  Bevel up or down?  English flint, French, or Pierce?

[Acer Saccharum]

When you say it's eating flints, I have to ask HOW?

a) Flint breaking into bits with little or no spark, with the flint making deep bite marks into the frizz?

b) Plenty of spark, but the flint is breaking into pieces?

Scenarios a) and b) have entirely different problems. Before I wirte my little fingers to the bone, I'd like more info from you on how the flint is breaking.

Happy Thanksgiving, unless you are Canadian, eh.

Tom

[Dphariss]

What are some ways to adjust a "Davis French Fusil" lock from eating flints?


Thanks
Jeff

Extend the flint wrap, I use leather, out over the top of the flint if its breaking flints off in big chunks it may be the frizzen is whacking the flint on the rebound.

Dan

[jeff birkey]

Thank you very much for the responses, and I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!

I use English flints, held in by leather and I've done both bevel up and down. It has great sparks and goes off every time but the flint disintegrates down to a nub in about 12 shots.

Thanks again
Jeff

[alex e.]

Would the frizzen still rebound with a mainspring a heavy as on this lock?I think its made from an old leafspring .
Or doesn't it really matter?

[Larry Pletcher]

My first thought would be the srtiking angle.  If that were the reason then bevel up and bevel down would act differently.  You mentioned trying both ways.  Did either last longer than the other.  If one was at least a little better, it might be a clue. 
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pletch

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

It sounds to me like the frizzen is rebounding and hammering the top of the flint.  Try Dan's suggestion of protecting it with the leather wrap extended.  It'll get out of the way for the flint to scrape the frizzen.

[Dphariss]

Would the frizzen still rebound with a mainspring a heavy as on this lock?I think its made from an old leafspring .
Or doesn't it really matter?

Frizzens can rebound with surprising force and WILL snap flints off.
The groove in the leather is from the frizzen rebound.




Sometimes they will mark the top jaw.
If it has a really stiff mainspring and a weak frizzen spring it may put so much energy into the frizzen that it can compress the frizzen spring and snap it back and easily break a flint, a STIFFER frizzen spring may help.
Dan

[Acer Saccharum]

I had that very problem with my Davis Colonial. The mainspring is a mother of all springs. The flint was disappearing 1/8" at every shot. Clean off. Gone.  Flint chips all in the pan.

To try to fix this, I curved the frizzen more, changed the flint to bevel UP, and spread the frizzen spring for more strength in the open position, and now the lock mills off 3/8 long steel curls that sit in the pan and burn. After all that, I still get an occasional bounce back.

More locks than you'd think bounce back. See Larry Pletcher's lock videos.

Dan, great suggestion on the extended leather.

[jeff birkey]

Thanks for ALL the great advice!!! I'll give them a try. Acer how did you curve the frizzen?

Thanks
Jeff