Which 50 cal flintlock to buy?

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synapse

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Thank you for the assistance in my previous posts throughout the last two weeks. I am ready to buy at this time. The question is, which 50cal flintlock pistol to purchase?

I have looked online and could only find a 50 cal flintlock from brass creek muzzle http://www.brasscreekmuzzleloading.com/trapper.html


Are there any other and/or better options?

Thank you and regards,
synapse
 
Hey Synapse

There are alot of custom and semi-custom gunmakers out in the big blackpowder world. I don't know how deep your pockets are, but I would go for the best quality I could. Production guns usually work, but they lack a bit of authenticity and style. There is a group for gunmakers called Contemporary Longrifle Association.
This will give you an idea of what to expect, but do your homework (and some searches) and you will find guns from the top to the bottom of the price range. You get what you pay for!!!!
 
Do a search under my name in this forum. There's a guy who teaches you to build your own for $250 US. You pay for parts but you walk away with a working flintlock (and knowledge).

But if you don't have time, consider a Lyman. With their coil springs (instead of V springs), they're not authentic but they're good starter guns.
 
On the advice of Stevelyn, I looked at the products offered by LYMAN. I noticed they did not have a flintlock pistol in their lineup - however they do seem to produce visually stunning products.

Any suggestions for a production flintlock?

synapse
 
Flintlock locks can be a problem. If the frizzen isn't properly hardened and the springs correctly balanced they may not spark. If you're intention is to shoot this rifle or pistol I would get one from a custom maker who knew what he was doing, or stick with a "production" caplock. To understand the wide range of available products go to: http://www.dixiegunworks.com and order a catalog. It is only $5.00, has over 700 pages, and is jammed full of good information.
 
I built my Tompson-Center Renegade from a kit. LOTS of fun. I don't know if it's still offered anymore, though.

I've yet to see a gun from Tompson, CVA, or Lyman fail to spark because of a bad frizzen.


Word of advice, though.

When you get it, invest in some quality hand-knapped English Chert flints.

Stay away from the BS sawn flints that are way over priced and way under performance.

Here's a thread on flints from a couple of months ago...

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7130&highlight=flint
 
Bought a used T/C Hawken and the frizzen was worn through the case hardening. I ordered a new one from T/C and it didn't fit, so they sent me a whole new lock, FREE. The 2 biggest faults of the T/C are the awkward grip and the shallow medium twist 1 in 48 rifling. If I was buying now, I'd get a Lyman Great Plains rifle, with the slow twist barrel for balls, and the fast twist barrel for conicals. Best of both worlds.

This lady has some good advice.
http://mamaflinter.tripod.com/beginningguidetomuzzleloaders/index.html

Are you sure English flints are chert? I thought chert was what they used in the colonies when they couldn't get the superior English flints.

Bye
Jack
 
Yeah, the combination rifling is really the worst of both worlds, but that's what you get when you have some people who are restricted to round balls (Pennsylvania) while others can shoot conicals, and finally some who want to shoot both.

The round ball only restriction is why T/C brought out the Pennsylvania Hunter, a flintlock with a 1 in 60" twist barrel specifically designed to stabilize round balls.

Worked great, they were accurate as can be.

When I was still living in Pennsylvania and hunting with my T/C I considered getting a replacement barrel from, I believe, Hastings, but the cost was prohibitive on my $14,500 yearly salary as a cub reporter, and then I moved to DC, so it became a moot point.


As for chert...

Chert and flint are actually in the same family, both being forms of quartz, and can be used in the same way. There are some differences, and not all flints and not all cherts are created equally. There can be significant differences in mechanical properties

Most English "flints" are chert, because England is LOADED with chert. Chert occurrs in nodules common in areas where there's lots of chalk, and if you know anything about England's geology, you'll know there's a LOT of chalk there.

I've been told bya couple of people that the best, bar none, English chert for flint making comes from a couple of square miles in Devonshire.
 
Speaking of flint, the Traditional Muzzle Loader Message Hide every now and then organizes a "flint buying spree" and all those skinflints pool together and order massive quantities of flint (min 50 per person). I suggested the first one a year or so ago and when we submitted our order (thousands with mine being around 250 or so) the English knapper was shocked. He wondered if we were stocking up for another go.
 
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