Commodore Swab

Im sorry but I don't have time, as for last year as far as I know it was approved the only thing that kept it from happening was lack of an agreed upon location and setting a time.

The easiest way to demonstrate how safe this would be to the powers that be would be to demonstrate what we want to do with my cannon lock. There is no barrel, no cannon, simply a lock. If this is going to take that much work to get an OK I would rather not go to the trouble. As far as a proposal, allow people to test the ignition of their flintlock 20 times in a row, its that simple. If it is too difficult for the powers in Tallahasse to understand this then I feel one must explain the entire operation of how a flintlock works. I would hope that as they tell us how we must fire our guns they understand how they work and a simple request of testing the ignition is all that would need to be asked for.

Last year we did this twice at PiP but were unable to do it in the fort due to logistics. Everyone who competed had a great time and enjoyed it. I was hoping we might be able to get logistics figured out so we could do this in the fort this year, its actually very simple. . . Everyone who wishes to compete has their weapon inspected if it has not already been done. One person goes at a time, they prime the pan on their flintlock and ignite it, nothing goes down the barrel. They reprime and flash again they are not allowed to clean anything or knap their flint. Everybody uses the same powder. After 20 attempts their score is how many times the pan ignited. The idea behind this is if you were in battle you wouldn't be taking the time between shots to clean and check everything as you might if you were hunting. By not having any powder in the barrel the fouling builds up faster which is an excellent way to find out whos guns will keep shooting when they must. If we can arrange this where it could be done each day I will donate 5 Original flints (dull) to the winner every day. These are flints that were dug up out of a British Armory in Nepal and date to over 200 years old. The record for last year was 16/20 on the first day it was a tie between Shay's snaphaunce musket and MadPetes flintlock knee gun. On the second day Stnky won with his snaphaunce blunderbuss.

A Ripoll (norther Spain) style stock bronze blunderbuss barrel, miquelet lock parts from the rifle shoppe. Over the horizon is a prototype test for my wifes pistol, a double barrel single lock (sliding pan) and a Spanish Pistol Madrid/ a la mode style lock.

With a little tuneing most India guns can be made much more reliable, say 14/20 pan flashes. I test te reliability of a lock by loading the pan only and flashing it, reloading flashing with no cleaning/knapping between shots. To get a lock to pass my requirements of reliability It must deliver 20 flashes of the pan with 90% or better, in other words 20/22 is the lowest score possible. With work on an India gun I can usually get it to this point, usually some welding and cutting is required for this level of tuneing. I took my pendersoli (harpers ferry) to this level of tuneing and WOW so much more work than an India gun, all the parts were well made but just not quite right.

No hurry

I can scan higher res but all I get is darker dots, the original is poor.

Im looking for somebody who can draw the lion and scrol work above the trigger guard in black and white. Anybody willing to give it a shot?

I have a blank that I am thinking about building into a new knee gun able to be delivered in Key West this year. I understand how the cost of a gun is rather intimidating so heres what I can do. . . $200 down $100 due in August $100 due in September $100 due in October $100 due in November $100 remainder due in Key West

Here are a few pictures of the finished product

A belt hook is the way to go definatly, period and very useful

I just finished tuneing this one up the lock went 20/21 shots without cleaning, wiping or repriming between shots.

As many know you get what you pay for in a flintlock. Recently I was requested to work on a "Sparrow pistol" one of a limited number made in India with the attempt to reproduce the pistol used by Jack Sparrow in the POTC films. After having worked on a number of india built guns I would have to say that the craftsmanship on the one I was working on was far below the "India" standards and has required extensive work to bring it up to a decent fireable weapon. In short problems ranged from ugly shape, poor sand casting detail, downright bad lock geometry, improper tension in springs, and many other little bits.

One thing to add, if you are coming to an event and want to shoot be prepared to follow their rules. If you can find out the black powder rules before hand all that much better. Inspect your weapon yourself before handing it off to be inspected, if powder is provided and you plan on bringing your own turn it in as soon as you get to the event. If the shoot is at 12 and you should meet at 1130 don't be late. If you disagree with how things are done take the high road and don't shoot. Voice your concerns but don't be upset. Above all follow their rules . . . A few examples (using FTPI as most have been there) "My pistol doesn't fire on FF so Ill just use the FFF or FFFF in my flask" "My musket doesnt make a bang with so little powder so Ill double up on charges" "A flash guard and frizzen stall are stupid and not nessary on my pistol" Some concerns get addressed and exceptions are made. Flash guards are a perfect example many people would rather not shoot than install one and having been addressed space is now given and exceptions are allowed. When a concern is raised by a majority it is typically looked to and addressed. I was shooting cannons the past couple years and only overheard about these issues from upset people. Those shooting weapons please remember that while in your backyard its your rules but while in somebody elses back yard its their rules. There have been many events I have travelled to that I have not shot my guns at because I disagree with how things are done.

Thanks guys

Thanks anyways.

Are the barrels turn off? Are the locks integreated or lock plates?

Blackley or Pendersoli?