flintlock
- Thread starter bearden
- Start date
horseman308
New member
+1 for track of the wolf. They seem to have just about anything you could possibly need.
Several years ago I decided that my life would be complete if I only owned a 36 cal Flintlock. I found a Pedersoli.
I then found out why they always show the mountain men going into the wilds with two horses.
It takes the second horse to carry all the stuff necessary to keep a flinter running.
After many frustrating attempts at a successful shooting session, I traded it for a 45 cal TC sidelock.
The Pedersoli is one of the few guns I have owned and either sold or traded that I don't want back. I really came to hate it.
I then found out why they always show the mountain men going into the wilds with two horses.
It takes the second horse to carry all the stuff necessary to keep a flinter running.
After many frustrating attempts at a successful shooting session, I traded it for a 45 cal TC sidelock.
The Pedersoli is one of the few guns I have owned and either sold or traded that I don't want back. I really came to hate it.
I have a Traditions Ky Flint in 50 cal and I love it Whole lot more fun to shoot than those cap Hawkins (I have 2 of those) I Have not had a misfire with my flint But have with the caps If I could still hunt I would use the flintlock
I going to order a Kit and build one after New Years
I going to order a Kit and build one after New Years
FL-Flinter
New member
That's one of the problems and why flintlocks are often looked down upon as being problematic. I started in BP with a CVA Kentucky flinter in .45, I worked on that thing ... pretty much completely rebuilt the lock and trigger to get it functioning just half decent. Thing is, I liked the idea of flintlocks so much, I stayed with it and I'm glad I did because once I started building guns from scratch using high-quality parts, it's a whole different world!
Despite the fact that the quality of the locks I use now come out of the box in better condition than anything the mass-production companies like Pedercrappi could ever even think about producing, by the time I put the finish tuning on them, my flintlocks fire as fast, and often faster, than sidelock percussion guns because there's no flash channel to contend with.
I got screwed royally on a Pedercrappi myself, it cost more than 25 times what the CVA did and was totally worthless, at least the CVA had a good barrel, the Pedercrappi barrels were worthless (.72 rifled & 10ga that were anything but the smoothbores they were supposed to be).
Please don't judge all flintlocks based upon the utter junk that comes from the mass-production companies.
.54 x 1:66
.54 x 1:66
.36 PRB @ 80yds (two in white are from a .45)
FL-Flinter
New member
Bearden,
If you're not familiar with flintlocks, the first thing I'm going to suggest is getting that gun to a qualified Black Powder gunsmith because CVA had a bad habit of leaving a gap between the pan and barrel - can allow priming powder to collect inside the lock mortise resulting in the stock blowing up in your face. May require adjusting the mortise and/or truing the lock plate/pan. If you have a hook breech style, also have to make sure the barrel wedge is properly adjusted or it'll cause a number of problems. The lock geometry should also be checked and adjusted as necessary, should just have the the lock tuned.
Also, you may need to experiment with different types of flints. The hardness of the flint must be matched to the hardness of the frizzen. Flints that are too-hard will cause excessive wear/damage to the frizzen, flints that are too-soft won't produce enough spark. Most of these cheap locks will function best with cut agate (sawn) flints. The expensive cut flints can be re-sharpened quickly on a diamond hone in a couple minutes.
Before
After
I don't get to the fourm as much as I'd like to so if you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Mark flintlockbuilder@yahoo.com
If you're not familiar with flintlocks, the first thing I'm going to suggest is getting that gun to a qualified Black Powder gunsmith because CVA had a bad habit of leaving a gap between the pan and barrel - can allow priming powder to collect inside the lock mortise resulting in the stock blowing up in your face. May require adjusting the mortise and/or truing the lock plate/pan. If you have a hook breech style, also have to make sure the barrel wedge is properly adjusted or it'll cause a number of problems. The lock geometry should also be checked and adjusted as necessary, should just have the the lock tuned.
Also, you may need to experiment with different types of flints. The hardness of the flint must be matched to the hardness of the frizzen. Flints that are too-hard will cause excessive wear/damage to the frizzen, flints that are too-soft won't produce enough spark. Most of these cheap locks will function best with cut agate (sawn) flints. The expensive cut flints can be re-sharpened quickly on a diamond hone in a couple minutes.
Before
After
I don't get to the fourm as much as I'd like to so if you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Mark flintlockbuilder@yahoo.com
Last edited:
toolslinger
New member
Wow
Fl-Flinter those are some Beauties.
Fl-Flinter those are some Beauties.
longranger
New member
CVA has more crappy rifles out there than Pedersoli.I'll keep my "Pedercrappi" 36 cal Blue Ridge and Gibbs.Last I looked CVA has not produced any significant Match winning guns.
I will agree that there is no comparison between European B/P guns than good ol American custom builts I have both.Pedersoli is the better of Italian makers.CVA is Italian/Spanish as well or at least the significant componets are.I've had more problems with the Lyman/Italian imports than any Pedersoli.CVA's hey day lasted about a week.A few good rifles did manage to escape.CVA has no promise of a quality rifle at least Pedersoli has improved most of their barrels.The Gibbs rifle has perhaps the best barrel for B/P long range shooting manufactured today.
I will agree that there is no comparison between European B/P guns than good ol American custom builts I have both.Pedersoli is the better of Italian makers.CVA is Italian/Spanish as well or at least the significant componets are.I've had more problems with the Lyman/Italian imports than any Pedersoli.CVA's hey day lasted about a week.A few good rifles did manage to escape.CVA has no promise of a quality rifle at least Pedersoli has improved most of their barrels.The Gibbs rifle has perhaps the best barrel for B/P long range shooting manufactured today.
I have shot flintlocks in compention for over 40 years, in all kinds of weather
and I will say they are more reliable than percussion. More accurate too. I
have done a lot of testing of bench guns and all I had to do was change the
lock to switch from cap to flint. Don't let this secert out, but flint is more
accurate. I now shoot nothing but flint pistol. When my pistol is fired, you can't tell it from a cap. I use 7 F in the pan for priming. FAST!!
and I will say they are more reliable than percussion. More accurate too. I
have done a lot of testing of bench guns and all I had to do was change the
lock to switch from cap to flint. Don't let this secert out, but flint is more
accurate. I now shoot nothing but flint pistol. When my pistol is fired, you can't tell it from a cap. I use 7 F in the pan for priming. FAST!!