When he said out in the field he wasn't joking... He's literally out in the field

Been keeping up with Townsends since, ummm, long before the internet. First discovered them through the "Backwoodsman" magazine. Watched about every video they put out. Said that to say this; this is the best video/presentation I've seen to date.

Very informative. I never suspected a flintlock is such an intricate piece of mechanism.

You should definitely do an era correct firearms series

@Townsends thank you for this informative video.

Best description of tear down and cleaning I have watched. Like the way you went through the lock parts. You know your business. Thank you

This was wonderful footage of a flintlock rifle breakdown and cleaning. I had no idea it could have so many small delicate parts that needed oiling. It sure gives a person a new perspective on how our ancestors had to care for their firearms then. Thanks so much Jon for doing this video, this was very educational as well as interesting. 2nd grt. grandpa was a gunsmith, so it was really interesting to me to see this fellow disassemble his gun, as a person would out in the field, instead of in a gun shop. To think that one tiny little piece could make the gun nonfunctional, amazing!

A tip to remove the lock plate, leaving the lock screws in place after unscrewing them, thread them back in 1 complete turn, then lightly tap on the heads of the 2 screws, first 1 then the other going back and forth until the lock plate has come out past the in letting of the wood. By leaving the screws 1 turn in, it will keep the lock plate from falling on the ground. You would not believe how many lock inlet repairs I have had to do because the fit up was tight and newer shooters would pry the lock out wih the hammer or frizzen. Also a tip for cleaning after a fairly extensive shooting session, place a piece of leather or cloth patch down occluded the touch hole and letting the frizzen down to seal the touch hole. Take a coffee pot wih heated water, the hotter the better but keep in mind you will most lokely spill it so not so hot as to burn skin. Angling the gun about 45 degrees with the lock plate facing down, pour the hot water down the bore and once filled, let set for a few moments ad then tilt the barrel upto empty the barrel. Do this several times until the water comes out clean. This will greatly reduce the amount of tow or patches you will have to use to clean your gun. Also, the water that will seep out of the touch hole will soften the dry powder hat has accumulated on and in the lock making cleanup of that even easier. As and fyi, I have been shooting competition black powder since 1995 in the N-SSA and have been gunsmithing/building black powder guns for about as long. If you ever get a chance to attend a skirmish, you will lilly enjoy yourself and join, now you can't say I didn't warn you.

Well done! Simeon was a great choice to do this demonstration.

Now that is just plain cool! The presenter really knows what he's talking about too.

I have my grandfather's hand-made flintlocks! This video was so educational, I will be cleaning them the proper way from now on!

Could you have Simeon do more flintlock videos? The education he provides is fantastic. IDK what I'd do with out this channel, it is bringing me back to my old Revolutionary War days where I would pretend to fight line battles all by myself. Love history.

Great vids, been watching for about 2 or 3 years

Very helpful. I wish I had this kind of information years ago. Thank you Mr. England and Mr. Townsend!

Not knowing much about guns, I was looking at a Civil War era musket one time and I wondered why there was a threaded bit on the end of the ramrod, but it makes perfect sense that you'd use that to attach a cleaning tool. Great video.

An excellent lesson on gun maintainance. Today we don't realize how important this was in surviving the back country or even on the farm. Thank You Kindly! DaveyJO in Pa.

I requested this exact video about 6 months to a year ago. I was so happy when I saw it. I own many black powder muskets, rifles, and revolvers. And it is always good to see how people clean their black powder arms. Small differences with so many people. But overall the same. Great video!

I know this is not about cooking but this is one of my favorite videos. I have tried to demonstrate period correct firearm cleaning but Mr. England does an outstanding job !

A very nicely done video - thanks Jon and the whole Townsends crew! Simeon England delivers in a nice, low-key fashion a good bit of his expertise, demonstrating that there was far more involved with a flintlock than just stoking powder down the bore. Glad to see his use of his apron as a convenient location to position his parts while working on the rifle - also noticed his bare feet! It's clear he was in no mood to suddenly jump up and start running after another bear! (grin)

Mr Townsend. I just wanted to say i am a big fan of your channel and i was a bit starstruck when i saw you walking up to your station at the missinawa 1812 reenactment.

Wonderful video, Mr. England!

This is so excellent. Thank you so much.

I am a Townsend addict. I ordered years ago when Jon's dad was in charge. I bumped into this channel & have been binge watching for 2 weeks & have placed 2 large orders. I love 18th century history-always have. I have my family traced back to 847. I also have my 9th great grandmas starter (1630 England). Happy to share some. Possible interests 18th century jewelry & sourdough use. Thanks Jon.

It is nice to see people keeping the old skills of history alive.

GREAT VIDEO Thank you!! The only thing I'd say is use something to hold all your parts in once they're removed. If in the field, a pouch, rag, your hat or even a piece of rounded tree bark would suffice to keep the parts safely together. Scattering parts on the ground, on your legs, knees and in your lap is a recipe for disaster if you had to get up real quick for whatever reason and you lost a part(s). If this was the only Musket you had with your life depending on it for food or foe, you'd be in real trouble.

Great video Simeon! That was awesome to watch

Fine and practical instruction at a level I have not seen before. I have not seen the spring vise before, nor understood its use.

It must have been nerve wracking to do when your life depended on that gun and there were few shops to buy parts.

I thought I had no interest in guns but I was fascinated! Thanks for this presentation.

Great setting, great topic, great outfits. Happy Holidays!

Outstanding demonstration! Thank you!

Great demonstration. I was really surprised when he opened the stock and revealed what was inside.

Great informative video. I have removed the lock to clean it, but haven’t actually disassembled the lock. Thanks for this!

Very clear and simple instructions for a task of great importance. Thank you!

Brilliant, I never thought that there was that much inside the mechanism. Thanks for sharing

always a pleasure to see someone who knows what they are doing.

I bet this could be a nervous time having your gun completely apart knowing it's your best defense in times of danger.

I've watched many many many videos of Flint lock and other mussle loaded guns this is the best I've ever seen.. thanks

Congrats on 700K!

Brilliant production. Many thanks for posting.

Great demonstration ! He knows how and why! I am a black powder shooter and this is wonderful see presented properly !

Well done with great information & no waste of time. Like the cabin, also.

really great overview of cleaning his rifle.

Living history. Fascinating, thank you

Fantastic presentation

Thanks for the Video. Answered a lot of questions about "how they did it before breach loaders" that I had

Most. practical and low key informative video. Cut right to the chase!

Loving these style of videos!

Great demonstration

A useful video on an often forgotten part of such things!

These videos are gold as I am about to do my first revolutionary war reenactment and I intend to go as a longhunter/ Scots-Irish militiaman. Also this video is gonna help tremendously as it will be my first time handling a flintlock and I most definitely need to know how to clean a flintlock

I appreciate the detailed walk through - this was really cool to watch (also for one who'll probably never shoot a rifle like that).

Finally, solid information, from Townsends as usual.

AWESOME VIDEO!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

Fascinating ! Its like you went back in time to film this.

Doing this on grass? This man must have the utmost confidence in himself.

Ensuring one’s implements are ready and in good working order, especially those that bring food to the table and defends one family, was a must on the the frontier.

What a great video. Thank you

AWESOME!!!!Very informative!.You've got it Man.

So many intricate parts. I had no idea. Very educational.

Nice video, very informative. Thank you for making it.

Lets have more Simeon,,,fascinating

Nov 2022. I've been a long time follower of Townsends and Sons. The history being kept alive is priceless. As a firearms enthusiast because of there history and the stories they tell.. ( I'm not into semi- autoes )Im interested in the hunting and civilian frontier use of these firearms. to think that each part was hand built , or at least hand fitted is marvelous. Q; were these early guns BLUED to make them more rust resistant ? Ontario Canada.

Ballistol is wonderful on black powder guns.

Now this is good information. Keeping old ways alive, wonderful to witness.

Thank You for providing this information!

This is a excellent video on the care and field maintenance for reenactment or primitive black powder hunters. I like how he explains why to tighten the screws to certain tightness. Attention to details is what keeps these guns running for so long. This guy obviously has been around these type of guns for some time.

Excellent! Great information.

Great info video..!! Thanks for sharing.

Can't wait to put what I've learned here into practice, thanks!

John...Great vid. Very informative. Early next year, I will be placing an order for a custom 62 cal. smooth bore fowler. Large Round faced English Lock, dark walnut finish, Chambers fancy side plate, brass furniture, Georgian relief carving, and 51 inch barrel. Can't wait. Will post pics, when done. Again, thanks for your channel in bringing the 18th century to life. Esp. like the tavern recipes.

Fantastic video thank you

Excellent video!

Great video. One of the best I've seen on fire lock cleaning. I assume it was an omission but no corrosion protection was applied to the bore after cleaning. I assume he would have used tallow but sweet oil and foot oil were also used.

I love your channel, I always look for your videos in my feed. :)

I have to replace a broken sere on a percussion pistol; the locks aren't that different and this video was very helpful in seeing what I ought to do and ought not to do. Thank you very much!

👍👍 thanks for sharing, great video. Fred

Great video, you are extremely careful and meticulous about cleaning and handling your rifle, as I'm sure hunters of the period were also. They had to be, their rifles were their means of making a living and an investment to a future and better life. I have never shot a flintlock but, have had several percussion and BPCR rifles that I have shot and hunted with. I have always admired a well made firearm and, the flintlock, must surely be on the very edge of the beginning of workmanship and beauty in the firearms progression in the world. Truly they were a product of artisans in metal and wood before the old adage of "form follows function" was coined. From what I have seen, being a admirer of fine firearms, is that the flintlock rifles were some of the most beautiful guns ever made. I am also a collector of Winchester and Marlin vintage rifles and shoot all of my collections. I have also been a flintknapper for over 35 years so it just seems reasonable I should be shooting a flintlock. After watching your video I am restored with a desire to own and shoot a flintlock rifle. I will have to do some research on acquiring a good one. If you have any suggestions where one can find a good reproduction or original that won't break the bank it would be greatly appreciated, as growing up in Wyoming and Montana most historical firearms are of a later period and I really have no connections for the beautifully made and accurate flintlocks like you use. I have always greatly admired the beautiful work that went into the manufacture of the barrels, locks and the wood in these fine weapons,. They are truly a masterpiece of artistic labor and detail of blacksmithing, metallurgy, and woodworking.Also, all my knowledge of cleaning black power arms have centered around modern cleaners and/or hot water. I have always been very careful to not use any water unless it was hot enough to make the metal quickly evaporate any moisture that could collect in nooks and crannies that may be missed when cleaning. I was quite surprised to see you using cold water to swab your barrel. And I guess I can see using cold water if the firearm is to be used fairly soon after cleaning but, I have never considered using it to clean the barrel and not use it for possible several days to weeks or longer. Even lubricating the gun after cleaning may still allow small areas of moisture to collect in hard to reach areas or at the bottom of the barrel. Is using cold water the standard operational procedure that most period hunters and you use regularly or just a quick cleaning when it becomes absolutely necessary knowing you will be using the gun soon after the cleaning.One more question; do you make your own black powder? I can tell by looking at and listening to you that you are a veritable wealth of information on the flintlock rifle as well as how people lived, dressed and the tools they used in this time period. Thank you and Townsends for taking the effort and time to make this video, the information in it is very valuable and interesting. Well done!

Great instruction! Thanks!

I like these. Please do more involved with the hunting types and practices if you can. No pressure not demanding. I appreciate what you do and the time it must take do it.

Great job 👍 , lock , stock and barrel .

cleaning a gun back then is just as relaxing as it is now. Nice Vid!!!!

Cooking and learning about flintlocks, what else can this channel do?!

This man is one of the BEST!

Loving these flintlock vids

Great video - thanks

This is so cool!:) good job!

Thank you for the video on this subject. I appreciate the work that goes into proper maintenance of any weapon. While volunteering at Fort Stawix ,as a solder in the third NY, I always cleaned my Charleville musket , or cannon, after firing demonstration. One piece of information I would like to pass on though. The term "frizen" is technically correct when referring to the part of the lock that the flint strikes upon to excite sparks into the pan. However, this term wasn't used until early in the nineteenth century. Before then, this part of the lock was refereed to as the "hammer", and included a safety feature known as the "hammer stall". The hammer stall was usually made of two small pieces of rawhide sewn together to make a cover that was slipped over the hammer to prevent sparks from igniting the powder. During firing procedure, the hammer stall was the last thing to come off the lock while making ready before firing, and first thing to go back on after firing. Also, black powder is an accelerant , not an explosive. Fun fact.

Wonderful to see traditional dress and environment. Good job. The pride and passion is v e r y clearly there.

Thanks for this.

Lots of good advice

Great video, I always wanted to shoot one. I have a few rifles but a flintlock one would be awesome to add to my collection

Well explained!

Thanks! I’ll try it

That was very informational and very cool. I one day want to become a collector of vintage firearms and this is great for that dream of mine.

This is inspiring. I do not own a gun. But, I do own mechanical equipment that needs regular maintenance.

I just fired and cleaned my new fowler, this is a great tutorial.

Great Video

Excellent!

excellent video, well explained...God bless...doug