Author Topic: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?  (Read 9261 times)

Chemman

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What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« on: March 14, 2020, 08:26:13 AM »
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


Offline John SMOthermon

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2020, 05:08:06 PM »
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.
Smo

Good Luck & Good Shootin'

Online rich pierce

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2020, 05:17:35 PM »
In a pinch turn your flint around 180 degrees. Many sorts of tools will restore an edge to a flint. The thing is practice.
Andover, Vermont

Offline MuskratMike

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2020, 05:30:14 PM »
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.

"Muskrat" Mike McGuire
Keep your eyes on the skyline, your flint sharp and powder dry.

Offline Dale Halterman

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2020, 06:01:49 PM »
I prime with a brass charger with the plunger that dispense a fixed charge. Knapp with the bottom of the charger.

Dale H

Offline Brokennock

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2020, 07:19:13 PM »
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.

Offline Pete G.

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2020, 07:21:27 PM »
I use the frizzen knapping method. Always handy and nothing extra to lose.

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2020, 07:45:54 PM »
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.







D. Taylor Sapergia
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Offline Skychief

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2020, 07:55:05 PM »
I use a notched nail.  Tap it with a ballstarter or anything that's handy.  Works a trick.

Offline RichG

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2020, 08:07:46 PM »
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.

Offline Mike from OK

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #10 on: March 14, 2020, 09:37:23 PM »
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

Offline smallpatch

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #11 on: March 14, 2020, 09:39:26 PM »
Cut nail with a notch cut in it.
In His grip,

Dane

Offline Mike from OK

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #12 on: March 14, 2020, 09:46:55 PM »
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

Offline Oil Derek

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #13 on: March 14, 2020, 11:42:09 PM »
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.

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #14 on: March 14, 2020, 11:47:25 PM »
I'll check the tutorial.  I thought I'd fixed all mine.  Yes, same tool and same photos.
D. Taylor Sapergia
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Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #15 on: March 14, 2020, 11:55:40 PM »
I cannot find the tutorial I did on flintknapping....OD:  can you post the link here?  I'll restore all the images then.
D. Taylor Sapergia
www.sapergia.blogspot.com

Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline Mike from OK

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #16 on: March 14, 2020, 11:59:22 PM »
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.








Taylor did you pour lead inside the copper pipe for weight and to hold the shank in place?

Mike

Offline L. Akers

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #17 on: March 15, 2020, 12:13:28 AM »
I use a deer antler tine to pressure flake.

Offline hanshi

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #18 on: March 15, 2020, 12:32:57 AM »
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.
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Offline Scota4570

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #19 on: March 15, 2020, 12:55:56 AM »
I just use the side of a steel or brass rod, nothing fancy. 

Offline Ky-Flinter

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #20 on: March 15, 2020, 01:19:19 AM »
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.





-Ron
Ron Winfield

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun. -Nate McKenzie

Offline Ky-Flinter

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #21 on: March 15, 2020, 01:26:07 AM »
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
Ron Winfield

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun. -Nate McKenzie

Online EC121

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #22 on: March 15, 2020, 01:47:49 AM »
I usually use the corner of the plunger on my measure.  A few light taps will put an edge on the flint. 
Brice Stultz

Offline MuskratMike

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #23 on: March 15, 2020, 02:28:31 AM »
My-Flinter: that might just be the neatest napping tool I've seen. Hope you don't mind if the "Muskrat" pilfers your idea?
"Muskrat" Mike McGuire
Keep your eyes on the skyline, your flint sharp and powder dry.

Offline 577SXS

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Re: What does your napping tool for your flintlock look like?
« Reply #24 on: March 15, 2020, 03:19:40 AM »
I use the back side of my pocket knife and just tap the edge a few times.