Its a grand rifle, one I could become friends with!
I agree.Flintlocks did not become viable in my lifetime until some were made that might work 75% of the time and then someone
came up with the idea of a flash hole in a threaded liner and slowly they started to gain acceptance again and now a cottage industry
is dedicated to them. Most of the American longrifles that once were flintlocks now have a drum and nipple which proves that the flint
lock,while being at one time the only ignition system was far from being the ideal system.Even the legendary locks from the shops of
the best English lock filers fell victim to the tiny cap that allowed a likely successful hunting day in the rain and made the breech loader
possible.I made my very first muzzle loader in 1957 and used a barrel from a 25-20 Stevens that was 1/3 octagon and 2/3rds round with a
fine bore.A usable lock was cobbled together and I managed to make a double set trigger as well.There was only ONE flintlock in use in
this area that was once a smoothbore but rifled by Glen Napier and it had a Ketland lock.
Today's cap shortages can be overcome by importing them from Europe but it would take a major dealer to order enough to help the
current problems we have here.I have heard of preposterous prices being paid for 100 caps and opportunistic gouging becomes viable.
GOEX has been rescued or so we're told and maybe an independent maker can make caps as well.
Bob Roller
