Flintlock kit for me

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  • Last Post 10 January 2015
onondaga posted this 25 November 2014

I make it a point to look for a bargain flintlock kit at least every month to see if any new bargains show up. The work paid off this month and I ordered a kit on sale with an additional discount online coupon at the site.

http://www.oldsouthfirearms.com/Frontierkit.aspx>http://www.oldsouthfirearms.com/Frontierkit.aspx

Traditions Frontier Muzzleloader Rifle Kit, .50 Cal flintlockKRC525081$334.00$334.00 Subtotal: $334.00 Add-Ons: $4.00 Discounts: -$16.70 Shipping & Handling: $21.75 Tax: $0.00 Order Total: $343.05

I will finally have a flintlock again and be able to enjoy my favorite kind of shooting that I started with at age 7 in 1957.

Gary

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fa38 posted this 25 November 2014

Do this kit have a patent breech?

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onondaga posted this 25 November 2014

http://castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=562>fa38

Yes, the kit has a patented hooked breech. You can see the hook on breech plug  of  the barrel but the mating tang for the hooked breech is not shown in this photo. The photo does show the kind of ramrod keeper, curved flat spring I prefer. This is a single wedge half stock rifle with fixed blade sights and reported finish weight of 7 pounds. This is a light weight sporting rocklock rifle.

Gary

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fa38 posted this 25 November 2014

I guess we are thinking of different things. A patent breech is a breech plug with a hole smaller that the bore of the rifle and the vent goes into this smaller hole instead of directly into the barrel just ahaed of the breech plug.

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onondaga posted this 25 November 2014

The hooked breech of this rifle is designed for easy take down only and I am happy with the hooked breech design. I will have to inspect when the kit comes but it does appear to have a removable threaded flash hole plug that I also prefer on flintlocks.

Gary

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R. Dupraz posted this 25 November 2014

Patent breach plug

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onondaga posted this 25 November 2014

http://castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=82>R. Dupraz

 Nice illustration of a patented breech, I am familiar with those. They do offer a reduced diameter charge start area but the one you show does not appear to have the “HOOK” that provides a metal hook to a mating stock mounted tang for quick take-down. Hawken was the originator that initially patented the “HOOKED” breech for easy take-down and cleaning of muzzle loader barrels.

This style of hooked breech rifle takes down to remove the barrel by removing the ramrod, cocking the hammer, pulling the barrel wedge and simply hinging the barrel off. This was a significant design improvement at the time and highly praised for simplicity of rifle maintenance.

Prior to the Hooked Breech, removing the barrel required removing screws that fastened the fixed breech tang to the stock.

Gary

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R. Dupraz posted this 25 November 2014

I am aware of the Hawken Bros. history and the rifles that they were famous for. Having hand built two versions of them for several yrs. Along with various cap locks.      But, I have never seen nor heard of a patent breached flintlock. Hooked breach, yes. Kind of hard to tell from the photo but that barrel looks like it is breached with just a simple hooked breach plug with a touch hole in front.

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onondaga posted this 26 November 2014

Shipping verification and tracking # came in Email today, so it is on the way! I will have to gather some Poison Sumac pods to make my wood stain.

Gary

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Longone posted this 26 November 2014

onondaga wrote; I will have to gather some Poison Sumac pods to make my wood stain.

I can only imagine the warning that comes on that bottle!!!

Longone

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onondaga posted this 26 November 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=6699>Longone   I do have allergies myself but am not sensitive to the Sumac in this area. I grind the sumac pods fine in a blender and put in half water and half rubbing alcohol, then simmer for 30 minutes in a pot on stove. There is no exact formula proportions.

The Sumac stain is similar to a dark colonial maple and can be brought deeper by multiple applications. I apply it with a small sponge and rubber gloved hand!

Gary

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tturner53 posted this 26 November 2014

Have fun Gary! Looks like a good deal.

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onondaga posted this 26 November 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=2514>tturner53

I will have fun, I was a dental lab owner lots of years and have a nice Baldor bench motor and many accessories for polishing. I will start by polishing all brass parts and polishing and adjusting the double set trigger. I also have a full set of stock riffles and files to touch up all in-letting before I sand and finish the stock. Finishing a barrel takes the most time and labor on a kit.

The kit should at least come out pretty for me. Traditions is not a top line kit maker, I know that, but I will do the best I can with what I get. The only complaint I have heard about these Traditions flint kits is that the Frizzen is not hardened well. I have case hardened frizzens before so that is not a problem for me and only about a 10 minute job to case harden a frizzen.

Gary

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onondaga posted this 26 November 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=6699>Longone

I am sensitive to the Sumac in the Southern states but the variety in my New York State  higher altitude areas is much less toxic than the Sumac that grows along the Mississippi River. 

Gary

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delmarskid1 posted this 27 November 2014

Brown or blue? I experimented with toilet cleaner as a browning agent and it makes a nice fluffy rust. I browned a meat cleaver.

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onondaga posted this 27 November 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=348>delmarskid1

I have had such good results with Birchwood Casey Plumb Brown and that is what I plan. It is stinky and takes time and effort but it is much better than I have ever done bluing.

Gary

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Longone posted this 27 November 2014

I was pointed in this direction from a friend that has built several rifles (muzzleloaders) over the years. He says very easy to use and very nice finished product.

http://www.laurelmountainforge.com/barrelbrown.htm

Hope the link works.

Happy Thankgiving to everyone.

Longone

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onondaga posted this 27 November 2014

http://castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=6699>Longone

the link works fine, There is interesting extended instructions for the product at the site also.

Gary

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Longone posted this 28 November 2014

Gary,

I was pretty much sold on brown metal finish until I thought about putting on the Lyman 57 GPR rear sight and a globe front. As far as I know they both only come in blue finish so that would most likely look shoddy. So if I plan on putting the better sight on I will end up with blued metal.

Longone

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onondaga posted this 28 November 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=6699>Longone

Sure, that is a good point. I wasn't planning on using a peep on this little flint rifle but just using the stock sights,

Actually with the measurements I took on my Percussion Lyman GP rifle that already has the Lyman peep, the globe front sight heights available will not work for me. I use the standard front sight on the Lyman. The globe is too high in my application and loading.

Gary

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Notlwonk posted this 29 November 2014

Would it be practical to refinish the sights?   Just a thought.

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Longone posted this 29 November 2014

Not for me, too many small parts, knobs, threads etc. I guess I'll be deciding between seeing the front sight or looking correct. My T/C Hawken is blued so this will keep it company in the safe.

Longone

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onondaga posted this 02 December 2014

My kit arrived today 12/01/2014, I will have to study it but initial impression is very good. The stock is Maple and straight grained. The whole kit is in a sealed plastic molded package and unopened.

I only cut out the ramrod. This ramrod is completely finished and fitted with hardware ends and it is a  flexible resin ramrod, so I won't have to build one as if the kit came with  wooden ramrod. I am injury phobic of wood ramrods and pleased with the resin one in the kit.

The butt plate is fitted and so are the side plates for the barrel wedge. All other parts are packaged and the barrel has about a 200 grit evenly done finish. The barrel is marked made in Spain. There is a threaded hole for a removable flash hole plug as I hoped. The lock frizzen is gray and appears already case hardened.  I will pin scratch test the frizzen, if I can scratch it with a pin, I will case harden it myself.The lock-plate is color case hardened.

I will be studying the kit for a while before I begin work and will keep you posted.

Gary

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onondaga posted this 02 December 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=6699>Longone

Re: the Lyman  peep. It is not a classic time period sight either, it has an aluminum graduation plate. I didn't get this for my Lyman GP rifle to make it look time period authentic, I got it to have a better sight for match shooting and hunting. It is, and is a terrific sight, but it is very modern in appearance and it is blued. The 1/4 MOA clicks are accurate and repeatable.

Gary

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 02 December 2014

please a close up pic of sight. thanks

ken

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onondaga posted this 02 December 2014

http://castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=40>Ken Campbell Iowa

http://www.amazon.com/Lyman-Black-Powder-Receiver-Plains/dp/B003XM48L4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417550803&sr=8-1&keywords=lyman+57gpr>http://www.amazon.com/Lyman-Black-Powder-Receiver-Plains/dp/B003XM48L4/ref=sr11?ie=UTF8&qid=1417550803&sr=8-1&keywords=lyman+57gpr

The simple (oil drenched!)sights included in my new Traditions Kit:

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Longone posted this 02 December 2014

Gary,

This build is to have fun with, part of having fun (for me) is being able to “group” your shots on paper. I'm in the getting older everyday crowd, so being able to see the front sight is more of a memory than reality at this point. A adjustable aperture added to the Lyman rear combined with a globe front is a tremendous help in “grouping". At the same time I would like the finished rifle to be pleasing to the eye, I have no plans of going west and shooting Buffalo on the Great Plains.

Longone

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onondaga posted this 02 December 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=6699>Longone

I appreciate your sentiments! I do Hunt Black Bear and it has been a long time since I carried a rocklock for Bear.  I sold my last flinter, A Lancaster County Squirrel Rifle in .45 Cal about 20 years ago  and I have missed it dearly as it was my first rifle as a small boy. I took several Deer and a lot of small game with it. I carried the Lancaster for Bear but had no shot on them with that rifle.

My hope is that I can get the heavy 354 gr hollow base SWC 50 cal Modern Minnie rifle bullet from Lee to shoot well in the new Traditions rocklock rifle.  It has a big pretty flat nose and looks to be a Bear puncher at close range where my shots have been on Bear in my area.

I also have the Lee 50 Cal 320 gr R.E.A.L. mold, whichever prints better on paper with 80-90 grains Alliant BMZ , I will hunt with.

Due to my fear of God and Black Bears, I always carry a hatchet when hunting Bears with any single shot rifle!

I will modify the tiny narrow groove of the Traditions rear sight, it is too squinty for hunting bear. It is just a tiny slit at the bottom of the buckhorns...too tiny. You can hardly see that tiny slit in the picture.

Gary

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Longone posted this 02 December 2014

Gary,

I have been shooting my T/C Hawken (flinter) at paper (100yds.) with the R.E.A.L. 320 and it is the best shooter on paper for me. It likes 70 grains of FF with a wad over the powder. My R.E.AL.'s measure .517” at the top band, they fit tight but shoot well.

Longone

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delmarskid1 posted this 04 December 2014

"Due to my fear of God and Black Bears, I always carry a hatchet when hunting Bears with any single shot rifle."

Myself I'd want to be on VERY good terms with God if I had to hit a bear with a hatchet! We have a muzzle loader season running till the tenth of Dec. This has kind of got my juices going. I'll cheat and drag out the .58 two band Enfield.

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tturner53 posted this 04 December 2014

Well with a hatchet at least you'll go out swinging!

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onondaga posted this 06 December 2014

There is a Build tutorial I am running on this forum for my new Traditions Frontier Flint kit at:

http://castbulletassoc.org/view_topic.php?id=11283&forum_id=64>http://castbulletassoc.org/viewtopic.php?id=11283&forumid=64

Gary

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daboone posted this 09 December 2014

I'm another fan Of Plum Brown. That barrel will fit in most kitchen ovens for the heating required. As the barrel will be very clean it won't be an issue for the next batch of cookies. I use a draw file to clean up the barrel before heating and the Plum Brown.

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Brodie posted this 09 December 2014

Gary Do you know of anybody who markets a kit gun in .32 or .36 caliber?  I realize that this is off the subject of browning vs bluing for metal finishes, but I and several of my friends would like to have a small caliber rifle for rabbits and squirrels. Brodie

B.E.Brickey

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onondaga posted this 09 December 2014

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=1118>Old Coot

The first 32 cal that comes to mind is the Traditions Crockett model. It is a finished percussion rifle that goes in and out of stock and sometimes the Kit is available too. Crockett:

http://www.oldsouthfirearms.com/traditionsdavycrockettrifle.aspx

Gary

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Brodie posted this 10 December 2014

Thanks Gary.

B.E.Brickey

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Dirtybore posted this 10 January 2015

R. Dupraz; the Pedersoli Blue Ridge rifles all have the paten breech. I have one of their 54 caliber flintlock and if you compare it with that breech block pictured, the flue running from the breech back to the vent was 1/2” long and 0.19” in diameter. It was a bear to clean and even when clean, it was possible for 2Fg black plower curnals to bridge and never reach the vent. The rifle exibited inconsistent ignition and switching to 3Fg didn't help that much. If using 3Fg, I could get 3 shots off but once that 0.19 ' diameter flue got fouled, trouble began. the rifle would go off but good groups were impossible due to the inconsistent ignition.

I had a muzzleloder gunsmith pull the breech and bore that flue out to .31 caliber and while he was there, he coned the inside of the vent. That took care of the inconsistent ignition. Several years later I replaced the Pedersoli lock with an H & R Hatfield replacement lock.

I'm not a fan of paten breeches on flintlocks.

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