I lived in New Mexico half my life and I am very pleased that a Newf Mexican has sound knowledge to share about Black Powder Flintlocks.

Thanks for sharing your insight and expertise. Look forward to the next video.

Truer words were never spoken...15:56

Great video with great closeups! Thank you!

Great video on a flintlock maintenance necessity.

This is very timely as I have new flints coming tomorrow for my rifle! Thank you.

I mean your video is a great help for many and helps to keep our sport alive - thank you very much for that! I'm lucky that there is a black flint on the beach of the island of Rügen on the Baltic Sea in Germany and a red flint on the beach of the island of Helgoland in the North Sea. About 15 years ago, an antiquity researcher and archeology professor visited us in our rifle club and brought a black flint nodule from the Baltic Sea with him for his original Brown Bess musket from about 1740. As well as the traditional wooden tools and leather aprons of the craftsmen from the time when the flints for the muskets were cut. It was a lot of fun for us to find out the technique of beating to make your own flints. A very good friend of mine, who has unfortunately since passed away, showed a great deal of skill here and supplied us with flints he had hewn himself, which were absolutely perfect. This historical project ran for almost a year and in the end the professor was a proven expert in flintlock weapons and everything that goes with them, exclusively with historical means. Only the attempt makes you smart - experimental archeology.

I started muzzleloading when I was 14 (39 now), when I got a new Traditions Hawken Woodsman, in .50 caliber percussion. A couple years ago I built myself a flintlock, more or less in the style of a full stock Hawken, with a hodgepodge of parts that suited my liking. It's a heavy beast, with a .54 caliber straight, 36" barrel, one inch across the flats. Plan to use it for bears. I'm getting the itch to build another gun, but trying to decide between a .58 half stock hawken, or an English trade gun.

You've been a great help. I began with black powder decades ago, and never liked percussion caps with their habit of falling off or splitting, not providing a proof positive spark for ignition of the powder charge. Saving funds for a well made kit, as the custom option is just too costly a way to go. Thank You.

I am brand new to muzzleloaders. All things considered, building a flintlock, maintaining flints, making my own gunpowder, and balls is totally fascinating. I am not new to building firearms and I am going to enjoy this very much. Modern firearms are great fun, but these old guns are works of art.

This is an excellent instructional video. Thank you.

Really liked the flint snapping demonstration.

I've had very good luck with the TOTW English flints as well. Very good advice and demonstration.

Always good, concise, information. I don't have a flintlock, yet. Pretty sure I'll pick one up before too long so every time I can, I sit for a lesson from your video series! Thank you. A good source for those of us just starting this journey.

Excellent video. I'm going to try your way of managing flints. Thanks.

Thank you for this video. I am having my first flintlock built and this is something that I will need to know. I could have used this info last week when a new flintlock shooter was at my range and needed to change flints. Unfortunately he did not have the proper sized flints for his lock.

Amazing now I understand my gun better. Thanks for sharing

Thank you! I have been looking for this information. How to size the flint so I know which to buy and setting it properly in the lock. This was clear and complete information.

Thank you for the great information!

That way of knapping is so good, thanks!

yes you have been very helpful. thank you for your help.

“The last thing you want to do is break your cock.” (15:56) 😅 Sir, with this point I must agree. God bless. Helpful video.

Thank you for this video, now I will nap my flints sharp again! 👌🤠👍

Great video and advice .I,ll be trying your way of knapping flints .Might great more life out of them then knapping in the lock.Cheers

Regarding sawcut flints, such as those packaged for Thompson Center, I have sharpened them on a diamond knife sharpening stone. I wet the stone and stroke the angled face of the flint in a figure 8 - similar to lapping steel parts. It takes some patience, but it works.

15:59 Spat out my coffee.

One outfit was casting 'flints' using some kind of resin that had iron pyrite grains suspended in it. Sparked like crazy, but ATE frizzens! I'd avoid them entirely.

In over forty years of hunting with a flinter I have followed your practice and never once had a misfire hunting. I would say that bigger locks like yours or up to military locks get a lot more shots then small locks like the small Siler Of note: ledgers show one flint being issued in New France, French Canada, for every sixteen shots

Excelent tutorial

Good video as usual. We have lots of Burlington chert around here. Some use it for gunflints and I intend to as well. That said I need to practice alot lol

👍

❤😊

Bevel up for sure

Hey Steve, I’m a newbie to knapping flint. You demonstrated removing material from the beveled side of the flint. Does it matter what side you remove material whether bevel up, or down? Thanks for your videos, Wayne

I have been shooting a flint lock for 25 years and the frizzen. Has considerable ware should I replace it? Thanks in advance Keith

Where would one find the stepped rod he is using ?

Does Mama know that you are on her floral table cloth?