Flints

[beemer]

I have one flintlock and bought a lock to build another. I have a few flints but the shop I bought them from doesn't carry flints anymore. I've shot and built caplocks for years but I haven't had a lot of experience with flintlocks, I found out I really like them.

Where do you guys buy your flints and what kind seems to work best ?

Dave

[LAGS]

Track of the wolf.
But they are low on stock right now in most sizes

[GregLaROCHE]

I get mine from BP get togethers and competitions. There are usually people selling all sorts of things related to BP. I haven’t tried it, but I know that a lot of people rework their old flints.

[stubshaft]

I get some of mine from vendors on American Longrifles website. One of the best flints I have used is a french amber flint which you can usually get from octobercountry. I have used some of those pre-shaped agate flints in the past and was not impressed. If you learn how to refresh your flint it will last well in excess of 50 shots.

[444ttd]

i got a dozen of amber flints from heritage.


http://heritage-products.com/

[beagle74]

Black English from Track of the Wolf. They will, or did, hand pick if you have a preference for certain charachteristics. Learning how to get the most from your flints is all part of the flintlock experience and really not difficult at all. It will come with time.

[Sasquatch-1]

Do a search for gun flints. Lots of vendors will come up. whether they have them in stock is another matter.

There are also a coupe of sites you can order flint node and try flaking your own.

[GhostHawk]

https://www.neolithics.com/gun-flints/

If you want to get into knapping your own I strongly recomend this site as a good source for rock and tools.
Their gun flints are agate and are 11$ for 2.

[rfd]

Check the ALR (https://www.americanlongrifles.org/forum/) forum for folks selling flints, and for links to gun flint sellers.

[rigger]

I got my last batch from Stonewall Creek Outfitters.

http://www.stonewallcreekoutfitters.com/
They take orders by phone.

[scattershot]

What size and how many do you need? I have some I could sell.

[rigger]

I would recommend reading this book. It should answer most every question about flintlocks. The printed version is out of stock but Amazon has a Kindle version available.


https://www.nmlra.org/store/flintlocks-a-practical-guide-for-their-use-and-appreciation

[waksupi]

Avoid cut flints. The black English and French ambers are the way to go.

Some years ago, an old friend and I were discussing flints, and it turned out neither of us had ever used a French amber. We went to a vendor, and pooled our sources to buy a single amber flint. Did I mention we are both CHEAP?
On a coin flip, I got to use it first. I used that flint for about six months, and it was almost a round marble before it was his turn. He complained he didn't get many shots out of it. I told him that was probably because I had already fired over 120 shots with it. He thought we should buy another, so he could have first try with it. I told him no, my curiosity was satisfied. Old Jack and I had a lot of interactions like this one, all funny.

What that all boiled down to, was the English and French flints are close to the same durability, with a slight advantage to the English, as I have got over 175 shots from some of them. Whether you can get this many shots depends on the quality of your lock, and your knowledge of flint maintenance.

[quilbilly]

If you know some local rockhounds, ask them if they have any leftover agate, jasper, and obsidian slabs. Agate flints worked well for me but only agates collected from certain areas. Even jasper worked occasionally. The best sparks I ever got were from obsidian but you could only use out once when it would shatter. Local rock clubs often have a communal saw and polishing operation and there are always a few slabs not quite suitable for polishing that just get discarded. If you find one the right thickness and sparks well, gently tap it with a hammer and you might get several "flints" for the rifle at the all-American price - free. Knapping your own works well with flint and obsidian but knapping with agate often takes a lot of preparation with heat treating to align the crystal structure for knapping.

[0verkill]

I find mine out in the yard. In the spring when the ground is tilled or after rains when they wash out. NC should have some old Indian hunting grounds you could check out. Some I'll only get 3 shots out of, but you could save your good ones for hunting.