What problems do you have with your flintlock?

[Commodore Swab]

I was just wondering what problems most people have with their flintlocks, I can't think of how many times Ive heard things like "it Only misfired a couple times"

If you have a problem not mentioned please post what the problem is.

[hurricane]

That's a good question. After seeing your silky smooth lock and timing, I was aghast. Mine has pretty poor timing and I had no idea that you could fix something like that. I think my guns are going to have to go to Key Largo for a vacation so you can smooth the action out and fix the timing. I think that's the biggest problem I have with misfires. The Indian guns so need a good smoothing out.

[Cannibal Chrispy]

For many years I carried a matching pair of Pedersoli harpers ferry pistols. I thought they were in good working order until I traded one to Swab. Recently i saw the gun again after he had tuned it up, I was able to compare the two exact guns side by side, my stock pistol averaged 5 or 6 shots then i had to wipe my frizzen and knap my flint a little. i was completely blown away to see the "Swabbed" gun fire 21 times without cleaning the frizzen or touching the flint. Needless to say he is currently tuning up my existing pistol.

My hats off to ya Swab, your a friggin Lock Star in my book!

As fer the rest of ya, I highly suggest getting your gun "Swabbed"!

Edited May 19, 2011 by Cannibal Chrispy

[James Smythe]

My only real problem is that the ramrod likes to fall out. A small o-ring helps though.

[Commodore Swab]

For those of you that might be travelling to the pirate fest at Punta Gorda this year

http://www.fishermensvillagepiratefest.com/

I will be there and will be bringing equipment to tune/fix flintlocks. If there is anyone thinking about going this is an excellent oppurtunity to bring your piece to have it worked on. I will be taking reservations for those of you who are interested.

[michaelsbagley]

I had to put in three different answers to cover the five different locks I have... that said, I tend to be handy enough to tackles some of the easier issues... next time I hit something beyond my very modest skills, i'll keep you in mind Swab.

[Commodore Swab]

Thats why I left it open to select multiple answers, did you have a problem not listed?

[MajorChaos]

I'd really love to learn how to tune the locks.

Did you learn from someone or figure it out on your own?

Was there documentation that you learned from?

Mostly just curious as I haven't started researching how to tune a lock yet.

thanks

[bo'sun Carl]

It seems that over twenty years of living history I have owned a flintlock that fits in almost every catagory(some where bought frome someone that did not know how to fix them). I am a self professed cheap skate so I have had to learn to make repairs and adjustments to my locks over time. At one event I am the resident flint lock mechanic, I love to see the look on peoples faces when their gun fires after minor adjustments usualy done on the fly in a battle senario.

[Commodore Swab]

It has been partly history, partly old timers, partly reading and a lot of experience for myself. Currently I am working on a friends cheap Jap tower pistol with an unbridled frizzen and I am up to over 50 firings on the same flint with no knapping just a simple cleaning when it gets loaded up.

[michaelsbagley]

Thats why I left it open to select multiple answers, did you have a problem not listed?

Nope the two problem ones I have fit nicely into categories that were listed. One of the problematic ones is a problem I know how to fix, but just haven'y found the time for it yet, the other "problem child" I understand in theory how to fix it, but falls into the category of don't want to risk fixing it myself... Just in case.