Alberta Black Powder Association Newsletter May/Jun 2013 page 1

Transcription

Alberta Black Powder Association Newsletter May/Jun 2013
Committee’s Punch Bowl
page 1
What is in a name? Apparently quite a bit, and to some people it’s quite important. This
newsletter which this newsletter compiler thought was the Punch Bowl, and agreed to send to the
membership as the Alberta Black Powder Association Newsletter Punch Bowl, is actually named
the “Committees Punch Bowl”. Earlier inquiries as to the origins of the punch bowl name went
unanswered so this compiler thought the punch bowl came from the jokes and funny stories and
there should be Committees to submit reports. Thanks to Garnet Anthony we now have the origins
of the Punch Bowl name. Story to follow. So when, in the future you see “Newsletter”, actually
think “Committees Punch Bowl”.
Garnet Anthony writes there is nothing sacred about any publication name, it’s the content
and the communication tool that it is, that’s important. Now here is the story:
The name “ Committee’s Punch Bowl “ comes from the Western Fur Trade era. In the
western reaches of Banff National Park there is a small round Lake, in a land depression, called the
Punch Bowl. During the fur trade era an Overland Trail, from what is now Alberta and B.C., was
used by traders and officers in the fur trade companies. They used to stop with their pack horses at
this small lake to rest and exchange information. Officers in the fur trade were called “The
Committee”. So their meeting and rest place became known as the Committee’s Punch Bowl, even
to this day.
Some years ago the Edmonton House Brigade, re-enactors group, wanted to go in costume
with horses to the Lake. The National Parks would not allow it. So the name “Committees Punch
Bowl” was a good name to call our club newsletter because it reflected the name of a traditional
location where people could exchange information.
Please note there is a correction to Thor’s 780-675-3790 Phone number for contact of the
Fort McMurry Shoot. Also please note the dates for the Beechy, Sask Shoot are Aug 16 – 18. As
you read farther in the newsletter you will find that the shooting schedule is continuing to increase.
I have added information from the BC Black Powder Newsletter. If you have any shoots that you
would like to add, please send them to me. Also a reminder to members that we have a classified
section that is free to members, space permitting. And contact Ken Brown for membership; see
membership applications later in newsletter.
Mary Lynn Brown
BOB LUKACS 1942-2013
Robert Terence Lukacs, beloved husband of Sharon Lukacs of Vauxhall, passed away in Medicine
Hat on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at the age of 71 years.
Bob was an outdoors kind of guy. His hobbies included fishing, hunting, camping, gunsmithing
and woodworking. He had a passion for black powder shooting and continued going to monthly
shoots in Lethbridge up through the summer of 2012. Bob enjoyed hunting with his sons, even as
recent as November of 2012 when he went hunting with two sons and a grandson for the last time.
His last months were more difficult as he became weaker from his fight with cancer, but right up
to the end he tried to organize the lives of those around him to make sure that things were done to
his standards.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Bob’s name may be made directly to the Margery E. Yuill
Cancer Centre 666 - 5 Street S.W., Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4H6 or to the Medicine Hat
Regional Hospital (Palliative Care Unit) 666 - 5 Street S.W., Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4H6.
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RED DEER BLACK POWDER ANNUAL TRAIL WALK
MAY 11 & 12 2013
ENTRY: $20.00 PLUS $15.00 BLANKET PRIZE
BLACK POWDER RELATED IF POSSIBLE (blanket prize optional)
KNIFE & HAWK ARE SEPARATE
PRIMITIVE ARCHERY IS SEPARATE
ALL BLACK POWDER FIREARMS WELCOME
(NO HAND GUNS)
Juniors & Pee Wees Welcome
FROM RED DEER TAKE HWY 595, EAST (21 KM) ON THE DELBURN RD. TO SOUTH ON
SR. 816 (4.2 KM) TURN EAST INTO DRIVE WAY. FOLLOW RD. TO CAMP.
OR
HWY. 2 FROM CALGARY GO EAST ON HWY 42 (21.6 KM.) TURN NORTH ON SR. 816
(7.7 KM) TURN EAST INTO DRIVE WAY. FOLLOW RD. TO CAMP.
THIS LOCATION IS NOT A REGULAR GUN RANGE, BLACK POWDER
DEMOSTRATION THIS WEEKEND ONLY.
START TIME: 10:00 AM BOTH DAY'S
CONTACT: GEORGE LANG 403-346-8636
Executive for ABPA
2013
President
Ainsley Rhynold
Vice President
Secretary/Treasure
Northern Director
Asst.
Doug Meeking
Barb Christiansen
Garnet Anthony
George Andrix
Center Director
George Lang
Asst.
Southern Director
Rob McCoy
Garth Marrale
Asst.
AFSS Rep
Membership Director
Punchbowl Editor
Phil Faubion
Barb Christiansen
Ken Brown
Mary Lynn Brown
Internet Editor
Mira Rhynold
780-672-0412
[email protected]
403-240-0223
780-672-3434
780-467-7347
780-633-1084
[email protected]
403-346-8636
[email protected]
403-347-1363
403-275-6161
[email protected]
403-644-3927
780-672-3434
403-887-2726
403-887-2726
[email protected]
780-672-0412
page 3
EHB Third Annual Skills of the Fur Trade Challenge
Edmonton House Brigade, Sherwood Park
May 25th, 26th 2013
E.H. B. invites one and all to a two day test of skills, proficiency and use of:
1. Muzzle loading Rifle [patched round ball, open sights only]
2. Muzzle loading Smoothbore [patched round ball, flintlock, no rear sight]
3. Combination event - Rifle Saturday / smoothbore Sunday
4. Junior muzzle loading rifle [16 years and younger, patched round ball, open sights].
5. Muzzle loading Pistol / cap and ball revolver.
6. Knife and Tomahawk
7. Primitive Bow
8. Center Shot rifle, center shot smoothbore, center shot pistol (tie breaker target)
Prizes & awards will be made for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes for events 1-7.
The Center Shot event will have a first prize only for each category.
 Combination shooters will shoot the center shot with their rifles Saturday.
 Entry fees will be $30.00 Adult and $15.00 Junior (16 years or younger)
 Blanket prizes will not be required.
 There will be a random cash draw on Sunday, with a guarantee of at least 50% of the entry
fees paid back to the contestants. Every registered contestant will receive a cash prize.
 The random cash draw prizes will range from $5.00 - $100.00
 Primitive and Tin Tee-Pee camping available
 Campsite open May 24th at Noon
 Traders welcome
 Roast pig supper provided Saturday evening for all registered shooters. Supper for non-registered
shooters will be available at a cost of $10.00 each.
 Bring your own water.
 Pets welcome but please note all dogs must be on leashes at all times.
 Please be courteous with the use of your generators. Try not to use them before 8:00 a.m. or after
8:00 p.m.
 Ladies interested in sewing are invited to sew at the clubhouse.
 Un-registered shooters will not be permitted to shoot during the event.
Please RSVP to help us confirm how much food will be needed. Contact:
Elaine Xenos @ - 780 - 479-0075 or via email at [email protected]
How Long Can I Leave My Muzzleloader Loaded?
By Randy Wakeman submitted by Patti & Garth Marrale
This question rears its ugly head several times a year. Well, you "can" of course leave your
muzzleloader loaded for as long as you want, and you are the one that is responsible if you do so.
Shooting it out at the end of the day is always best, but those that plead "but do I have to?" likely
will not be satisfied. Of course you don't have to. You don't ever "have" to change the oil in your
car, either, and you don't have to add salt to your water softener, either. You are far better off if
you do, of course, for many reasons.
Black powder is hygroscopic even in its unfired state. That is not speculation, it is wellestablished: Black powder absorbs about 1.5 weight percent moisture under 75 percent relative
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humidity at a temperature of 21.1.degrees C. (70.degrees F.) over a period of 24 hours. If black
powder picks up sufficient moisture, there is a possibility that the black powder will not burn as
fast. High relative humidity may cause erratic behavior. Water may cause the potassium nitrate to
migrate out of the black powder and cause corrosion of metallic parts.
That refers only to black powder, a mixture of three components, not a compound.
Synthetic substitutes marketed as "black powder" substitutes are generally worse. If it cleans up
with "regular tap water" it is naturally water-soluble. Anything that uses a sugar-base (American
Pioneer, Pinnacle, Black Mag3 in the ascorbic acid department, and Triple Se7en in the gluconic
acid department) will soak up moisture. The resultant erratic velocities or misfires are contingent
on a host of variables: humidity, temperature, ignition type, specific rifle, etc. A loaded
muzzleloader well might go bang the next day, or the next year for that matter. Or it may not.
Open packs of pellets, or opened jugs of powder lose their potency over time. On a very humid
day, you can see the loose powder start to clump in particularly in the case of American Pioneer,
and even Triple Se7en if you give it enough time. No one would think of storing powder with the
cap off; at least I hope not. American Pioneer / Shockey's Gold are so bad at sucking moisture that
desiccant packets are included in the jug. The diminishing performance is something you can
readily see if you shoot through a chronograph. Most don't bother; back to the ignorance is bliss
department. There is no benefit to leaving a muzzleloader loaded, except for those that are too lazy
to handle their firearms properly.
It is basic, fundamental gun handling to understand that a muzzleloader is considered
unloaded when the ignition source is removed AND the powder and projectile are removed from
the barrel. Though you might think it common sense, it is still loudly recommended by every
muzzle loading manufacturer and powder manufacturer.
It is more difficult to double-load a muzzleloader than is not already loaded. Leaving a
muzzleloader loaded makes you responsible for that condition, and for whatever transpires as a
result. There is no guarantee that your gun will misfire, nor is there any guarantee that an idle
powder charge will rot your barrel. Nor can any specific velocity loss be guaranteed; there are too
many variables.
What we are trying to guarantee is that the next shot out of the barrel at a game animal, the
only one that counts, will be the most consistent, reliable, and effective load there can be. That's
what you are betting your hunt on. There is only one option to give you the best chance of success
in the field, and that is a completely fresh powder charge at the start of every day's hunt.
Everything else is second best, or worse. No muzzle loading propellant improves residing in a
rifle. It cannot possibly get better, it can only cause problems.
No one makes you drain the gas out of your lawnmower or motorcycle at the end of a
season, or makes you hit that idle snow blower with a trickle charger. Yet, the number of
lawnmowers, motorcycles, and snow blowers that fail to start the next time are significant. "Jim
Bob" has a snow blower that never has failed to start for him though, and "Jim Bob" has a
muzzleloader that he thinks will be okay that he has kept loaded for a month. Heck, Jim Bob never
has checked the air in his tires, or his engine oil. Everything "works for me," Jim Bob likes to say.
It is the feeble-minded like Jim Bob that give Murphy's Law a fabulous head-start. And that is an
advantage that Murphy has never really needed.
Memberships
Memberships are due Jan. 1, 2013 and to that end I have attached a membership application for
Clubs and Individuals/ Families to the newsletter. Please send Alberta Black Powder Association
membership to: Ken Brown, 113 Grand Avenue, Norglenwold, Ab, T4S 1S5
Save Money & Time
Please if you receive a paper copy of the newsletter, consider passing along your email address to
[email protected] to save the club money & me time. Thanks Mary Lynn Brown
page 5
CROSS WINDS 5TH ANNUAL BLACK POWDER RENDEZVOUS
JUNE 1 & 2, 2013 ROSEBUD, ALBERTA RANGE
ENTRY FEE: $25.00; PLUS $15.00 BLANKET PRIZE (Optional)
Camping available from Wednesday through Monday
FRIDAY, MAY 31
SATURDAY, JUNE 1:
SUNDAY, JUNE 2:
Early registration available from 6:00 - 8:30 P.M.
Registration from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
10-round shotgun - muzzleloader or cartridge
11:00 a.m.
30+ shot trail walk
Any time after Trail walk: Hawk & Knife
Any time after Trail walk: Primitive Archery (Mike Willie)
8:30-9:30 a.m. Sight in for long range cartridge shoot
9:30 a.m.
Long range shoot (run by Eric Martens)
11:00 a.m.
15-20 shot Trail walk (Sat/Sun score combined for
Trail walk prizes)
CLUB MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE FROM TONY OR LYNDA - $25.00/YEAR/FAMILY
From the North on Highway 9 – turn
south on 840 to 3 km south of Rosebud,
take a left turn at the Dalum turn-off
(Twp. Road 270, Range Road 220a);
turn right here and take the dirt road
south 2 km to the shooting range. Signs
will be posted
From Highway 1 – turn north on to
Hwy 561, going east, follow along until
the turn-off to Standard on Hwy 840.
Drive through Standard to the Dalum
turn-off (Twp. Road 270, Range Road
220a); turn right and another right on to
the dirt road 2 km to the shooting range.
Signs will be posted.
Range will be open to campers on
Wednesday.
Contacts: Tony Jager 403-272-0322, Cell: 403-813-2541). If you have problems.
E-mail: [email protected]
Eric Martens 403-327-3703
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ABPA 36 Provincial Shoot Held in Camrose
June 15 & 16, 2013
PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE
Limited
Unlimited
Ladies
25 yd pistol
25 yd rifle OH
50 yd rifle OH
100 yd rifle OH
100 yd X-Stick
25 yd pistol
25 yd rifle OH
50 yd rifle OH
100 yd rifle OH
100 yd X-Stick
25 yd pistol
25 yd rifle OH
50 yd rifle OH
100 yd rifle OH
100 yd X-Stick
Junior
25 yd rifle bench
50 yd rifle bench
25 yd rifle OH
50 yd rifle OH
Shotgun
Cartridge
Knife
Hawk
Muzzleloading
Primitive Events
1.
3.
5.
7.
20 shot trail walk
2. Golf Balls
Rifle Duel
4. Pistol Duel
Shotgun Shell Driving
6. Knife & Hawk Trail
Archery Trail Walk
8. Smoothbore Trail
Memorial:
Provincial
Total Fees $25.00 for single $12.50 for each additional family member
$35.00 for non ABPA Members
Breakfast Sunday morning and the kitchen will be open both days for Hamburgers,
coffee, pop, and water. We'll have the forms for seniors and junior to get travel expenses, to
come to the provincials.
VALLEYVIEW AND DISTRICT GUN CLUB
Invites you to their
Annual Black Powder Shoot
JULY 6 & 7, 2013
NO REGISTRATION FEE, $15 value Trail walk prize required to enter
FRIDAY, July 5/13 – Campfire
SATURDAY, July 6, 9 A.M.
Novelty Events, Shotgun,
Sporting Clay, Buddy Shoot
Pot Luck supper at 6 p.m. with B-B-Q
provided
SUNDAY, July 7, 9 A.M. (approx. 2-3 hrs.)
Trail walk – 30 shots,
20 knife and hawk
Lots of Parking but sorry, no water, no power
page 7
HANGINGSTONE RAVENS RENDEZVOUS 2013
JUNE 30th TO JULY 5th FORT MCMURRAY, AB
EVENTS:
Sunday, June 30th
9:00 am: Muzzle loading rifle gong shoot (25 shots)
1:00 pm: Cartridge rifle event
Monday, July 1st
9:00 am: Edmonton House Brigade (E.H.B) smoothbore & rifle trail (20 shots)
1:00 pm: Muzzle loading pistol gong shoot (20 shots)
Tuesday, July 2nd
9:00 am: Muzzle loading rifle silhouette shoot (20 shots)
1:00 pm: Muzzle loading, cartridge, & smoothbore shotguns (10 shots each)
Wednesday, July 3rd
9:00 am: E.H.B. smoothbore gong shoot (20 shots)
1:00 pm: Squirrel Walk (20 shots)
Thursday, July 4th
9:00 am: Trail Walk (bring blanket prize)
1:00 pm: Pistol silhouette match (20 shots)
Friday, July 5th
9:00 am: Fort Shoot
9:00 am: Knife & hawk walk
1:00 pm: Turkey Shoot
NOTE: All numbers of shots are approximate. Smoothbore must be flintlock with no rear site. Squirrel
walk is 45 cal. and down. If you don’t have a 45 cal., you can use a pistol. All pistol shooters will
compete for one prize.
DETAILS:
Range gates open Friday, June 28th.
Lawn area for tents.
Lots of space for RV set-up.
Separate primitive camp area with firewood & water provided. Primitive camp rules are in effect. No
vehicles will be permitted in area after June 30th except for set-up or camp break down.
Showers available in the clubhouse and primitive area.
$25 fee per camp for the length of your stay / $5 fee per event
Council fire at 8:00 pm each night in primitive area. Prizes for the day’s events will be awarded at this
time.
There will be a potluck supper in the Clubhouse on Wednesday, July 3rd at 6:00 pm.
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NOTEWORTHY:
We encourage you to support our primitive camp; please bring yours along.
We have lots of daylight in June / July, so evening fun events will be encouraged.
Mine tours are available through the tourist bureau. These are highly recommended if you would like
to see some of the world’s largest earth moving machines.
Any traders interested in setting up their wares would be greatly appreciated.
Please keep the family pet on a leash.
Cannons are welcome; bring yours along.
Tavern hours are from after council fire until wee hours of the morning.
LOCATION:
The Fort McMurray Fish and Game Range is 20 km south of McMurray on Highway 63. Watch for the
sign north of the Gregoire Lake turn-off.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL:
Thor @ 780-675-3790 (home)
Rephil @ 780-334-2290 (home) or 780-715-5358 (cell)
U.S. citizens: this is your invitation to the 2013 Hangingstone Ravens Rendezvous, held in Fort
McMurray, Alberta, Canada. We look forward to having you join us!
A COMPARISON OF IGNITON SPEEDS BETWEEN FLINTLOCK, AND
PERCUSSION SYSTEMS
It doesn’t take a lot of experience with these ignition systems to realize that flintlocks are
noticeably slower. I had never seen these times measured systematically and reported until recently
when the results of such a study were reported in Muzzle Blasts – the monthly magazine of the National
Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. It was in the “Stump the Experts” section, pp. 41 - 43 of the August
2009 issue.
Apparently the flint and percussion action was recorded using a high speed camera at 5000
frames per second and then the photos were analyzed to measure the duration of the various activities.
Otherwise identical models of “Small Siler” locks were used.
The elapsed time from sear trip to ignition for the percussion system was .0056 seconds,
including about .0003 seconds from the time the hammer strikes the percussion cap until fire emerges
from the drum. Interestingly, the photos also showed that most of the fire from the percussion cap was
wasted outside the nipple.
In slow motion they saw that as the flint scraped its way down the face of the frizzen, sparks fell
ahead of the flint until they fell onto the priming powder in the pan below. There was a discernable
pause of about .011 seconds before the sparks ignited the priming powder (all the more reason to prime
your pan with nice dry 4 Fg). So how long did this actually take? They determined that from sear trip
until ignition in the pan, elapsed time totaled .032 seconds, including the .011 second period for the
sparks to ignite the priming powder. This test was conducted using both a new English black flint and a
new piece of Illinois Cobbden Chert, a flint alternative, with virtually identical results.
Thus the total time for flint ignition was almost 6 times as long as for percussion.
The .011 seconds period for the sparks to ignite priming powder was almost 36 times longer
than the .0003 seconds for the percussion cap to make fire, once it was struck. Thus it would seem our
best opportunity to speed up flint ignition is in the pan – we should try to put lots of hot sparks on the
finest grains of dry powder.
The video and more are available to watch on Larry Pletcher’s website at
www.BlackPowderMag.com.
Doug Meeking, Calgary 10 - 09
page 9
BLAEBERRY RIVER RENDEZVOUS
GOLDEN, BRITISH COLUMBIA
JULY 27-28, 2013
FEE: $20.00 OR $40.00 PER FAMILY
BLANKET PRIZE OF $15.00 (BLACK POWDER RELATED IS PREFERRED)
FRIDAY EVENING
-GATE WILL BE OPEN WEDNESDAY JULY 24 REGISTRATION
SATURDAY
 REGISTRATION 730-830AM
• SMOOTHBORE CLASS IF ENOUGH SHOOTERS
 TRAIL WALK RIFLE 900AM
• TRAIL WALK PISTOL
 TRAIL WALK HAWK & KNIFE
• FUN SHOOTS IN AFTERNOON, EVENING
 POT LUCK FEAST 600PM
SUNDAY
 TRAIL WALK RIFLE 900AM
 AWARDS




LOAD FROM THE POUCH, PATCHED ROUND BALL, OPEN IRON SIGHTS (NO IN LINES)
PERIOD DRESS IS ENCOURAGED (POINTS GIVEN)
PRIMITIVE & TIN TEE-PEE CAMPS
TRADERS WELCOME
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT: COLBY ROBISON
250-344-7877
EMAIL: [email protected]
RYAN ROBISON
250-344-7153
ATTENTION U.S. SHOOTERS, DO NOT BRING HANDGUNS, THIS IS YOUR INVITATION TO THIS SHOOT
"GUNS OF THE MEMBERSHIP"
Thank you Russ Christopher for these pictures & information.
Picture five of six - Lever Guns
1876 Winchester 45-75 (Uberti)
1886 Winchester 45-70 original receiver
1866 Henry yellow boy 44-40
Rem rolling block (ped 38-55)
Cartridge pistol 44-40 & 45LC - 38 Special
Picture six of six - Perc Guns
10 guage double barrel (ped)
12 guage single barrel fowlers
1841 Mississippi rifle 58 cal
Various cap & ball revolvers 36 & 44 cal
page 10
page 11
Fitting and sharpening a Gun Flint by James R. Magill
Submitted by Garnet Anthony
(James R. Magill built his first muzzleloader in 1963 while in the Air Forces, using a section of
discarded .50 caliber machine gun barrel. Magill promotes muzzle loading in his work with the Boy
Scouts and is building a collection of firearms with every conceivable type of ignition system.)
Technically speaking the
initial process of making a gun
flint is called knapping. What we
as shooters do to make the Flint
fit our particular lock and keep at
sharp and functional is usually
referred to as knapping, but as a
professional knapper told me,
actually we are only fitting and
sharpening the flint.
A well-made English flint will usually become dull in a predictable manner. When this happens
it is fairly simple matter to sharpen it. However a lot of today’s commercially available flints are saw
rather than knapped and are nearly impossible to re-sharpen unless you have access to lapidary
machinery. Some recently available flints are made from high tech ceramics that are guaranteed for
phenomenal number of shots. I have limited experience with these but do know that they cannot be resharpened without specialized equipment.
Knapping gun flints are made from flint nodules obtained from
chalk deposits in England and other places. Flint is a siliceous stone, which
means that it contains a lot of Silica and is therefore glass-like and fractures
in a way similar to glass. This predictability makes fitting a flint to the lock
fairly simple matter.
The flint should be nearly the proper size before you start to fit it
into the jaws of the cock. Obviously it must not be too small because the
only adjustment that can be made to the flint itself is to trim it down a bit.
A small flint may be made to work by clamping it farther out in the jaws of
the cock, but this is not usually the most satisfactory solution. Flints that are too
short usually are too narrow and thin as well if they were made to a proper
proportion in the beginning. This combination of narrow and skinny will usually
shorten their life expectancy by many shots.
A flint that is a bit too long can usually be made to fit rather easily in
one or two ways. First the flint is clamped in the jaws of the cock with a piece of
leather or other material wrapped around it to give it a solid grip. The leather
covers the rear, upper and the lower surface of the stone where would otherwise
come into contact with the upper and lower jaws of the cock. When the leatherwrapped flint is pushed into the jaws of the cock, it comes to rest against the top
jaw screw. If the flint protrudes too far, cut a notch out of the leather at its center
where it comes into contact with the screw.
If, after notching the leather pad, the flint still protrudes so far that it is
against the frizzen at half- cock, keeping the frizzen from closing all the way, the
stone will have to be shortened. This is done by nibbling off the rear of the flint with the jaws of a pair of
pliers. Remember, the flint makes sparks because it is harder than hardened steel. You probably
wouldn’t want to use your best pliers for this job. Bite off about an eighth of an inch of the stone at a
time. It is usually only necessary to nibble out a small section in the middle of the rear of the flint where
comes into contact with the top jaw screw.
page 12
Sharpening a
dull flint requires a different technique. In well-made flints the fracture that forms the upper and lower
surface of the sharp, striking edge are large and smooth and come together to produce a straight sharpcutting edge.
As the gun is repeatedly fired, small shards of the flint are chipped off of the edge. These
fractures leave trough-shaped furrows leading away from the edge and are known conchoidal fractures.
Usually the pointed tips formed
between the these conchoidal fractures
stick
out a little from the edge and sometimes,
instead
of making another conchoidal fracture,
crash
and flatten when striking the frizzen.
When
these flattened points along the lines are
protruding farther than the sharpened
area of
the edge, they will not perform their duty
of
cutting into the frizzen and causing
sparks.
Thus you have a dull flint.
To sharpen the flint, it is usually
only
necessary to tap the edge at the high spot
where
it is dull, using a downward and slightly
backward angle. To do this use a small
metal
tool. Many muzzle loading supply
houses
sell small brass knapping hammers,
usually
in combination with other tools for servicing the lock. Begin knapping by bringing the cock back to the
full cock position. Use the index finger of the left hand (assuming you are rat right-handed working on a
right-handed lock) to support the flint. Pull upward and back with enough force to prevent the cock from
moving forward if the sear releases
when you’re tapping on the flint.
The finger should be positioned
close to the edge of the flint but not
extending in front of the edge
enough to pinched by the blows of
the knapping tool. This support will
cause the chips that are broken off
of the flint to expand further back
under the lower side of the flint and
make a sharper edge. Remember to
hold the cock firmly. If the sear
releases and you are holding the
cock too loosely, it can snap
forward. This will not only pinch
your fingers between the cock and
the top of the lock plate, but the slivers of the flint are razor sharp and can make painful cuts.
A specialized tool for performing this task can be made easily using a short piece of brass rod
or even a medium-sized common nail. Put the rod or nail in the chuck of your electric drill and, holding
page 13
a file against the rod, cut a step into the last 1/4 inch or so of the rock. The step should be approximately
1/16 of an inch, perhaps a couple of thousandths less. In truth the tool could be made even simpler. It
need not even be round, but since the tool is working against a material harder than itself, if it is round it
will last longer because you can present a new surface of the tool to the flint each time you use it.
To use the tool, place the stepped portion of the rod over the edge of the flint at the dull spot as
shown above and tap the upper end of the tool with a light hammer or similar tool. As before support the
cock so it can’t snap forward in case the tapping causes the sear to release. This may be a bit tricky,
especially if you have small hands. You may want to make a loop of heavy core or thong to hook around
the top jaw screw, tying it to the back of the rear of the trigger guard or some other handy point.
Whatever method you choose, use several light taps instead of heavy blows. Many shooters have
warned me that it is possible to break the cock at the gooseneck if you tap too hard. I’m not acquainted
with anyone who is actually done this but I’m also always careful.
Do not try to sharpen the flint with a loaded gun unless you have no other way of unloading it
safely. Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction and make sure that the flash pan is clear of all priming
powder. It’s best to use non-sparking metal tools such as brass or aluminum.
With a little practice, you will be fitting and sharpening flints like a pro.
Legal stuff
The opinions and data represented here is the opinion of the writer and not Alberta Black Powder
Association. Please feel free to correct any spelling or grammar mistakes in your copy. I have had my
husband proof my written work to correct my spelling and Chretieneze. The only mistakes I need to
know about are corrections to names, email address, phone numbers, event dates or contacts.
Different Kind of shooting: Gnat Shooting If you think you can shoot…this is another level
http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2012/02/this-might-make-me-want-to-try.html
Did you know? Read, Debate, Decide Your opinion
Now that our Federal Conservative Government has fulfilled its promise to scrap the Liberals'
wasteful billion dollar long-gun registry, we need to look at other ways to save taxpayers dollars.
I have introduced Motion 439 to transfer the functions of the Canadian Firearms Registration
System to a civilian agency. In addition to saving tax dollars, privatizing the functions of the Canadian
Firearms Registration System has a number of other advantages:
- It would eliminate the costly duplication of having each province managing a separate
bureaucracy to administer the firearms registration system.
- Law-abiding sportsmen, hunters and farmers would benefit by having one set of rules rather
than the provincial patchwork that currently exists.
- By privatizing the functions, as a civilian agency the office would become administrative and
service-oriented, to the benefit of all Canadians.
- Law enforcement professionals' valuable time can be re-directed away from paperwork to more
useful tasks such as front-line policing.
The good thing about this change is that because it is administrative, legislation may not be required,
but your support is! You can help by casting your e-VOTE to demonstrate support for this
responsible firearms reform.
Sincerely, Cheryl Gallant, M.P.
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke
Alberta Black Powder Association (ABPA)
page 14
2013 Membership Application
Please Print:
Name:________________________________________________
ABPA Members #_______Date of Birth (yr/mo/day)___________
Name:________________________________________________
Name:________________________________________________
Mailing Address:________________________________________
City:_________________ Prov:______ Postal Code:___________
Phone:________________ E-Mail:_________________________
Membership Fees (Expires December 31)
One newsletter per household
Circle One
Single $30.00
Couples $35.00
Family $35.00
Make cheques or Money Orders payable to ABPA and forward to
Ken Brown (ABPA)
113 Grand Avenue
Norglenwold, Alberta
T4S 1S5
PLEASE NOTE: The information collected will be used to compile a membership list for
ABPA Executive Only: information will not be shared.
PLEASE INDICATE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE:
PUNCHBOWL E-MAILED _____________ MAILED OUT ____________
Membership Card Mailed Out__________________
Place:
Red Deer
Fish & Game
page 15
2013 Alberta Black Powder Shoot Schedule
Date:
Contact
May 11 & 12
George (403-346-8636)
[email protected]
Edmonton House Brigade
EHB) Skills of the Fur
Trade Challenge,
Sherwood Park
May 25 & 26
Ken (780-478-1988)
Cross Winds, Rosebud
June 1 & 2
Tony (403-272-0322)
[email protected]
ABPA Provincials,
Camrose
Jun 15 & 16
Barb(780-672-3434)
Silhouette Shoot
Valleyview
June 15, 16
Bernie 780-524-7955 or
Fred 780-524-8707
Ft. McMurray Rendezvous
June 30 – July 5
Thor (780-675-3790)
Black Powder Shoot,
Valleyview
July 6,7
Laurel 780-524-2570
Silhouette Shoot
Valleyview
August 10, 11
Bernie 780-524-7955 or
Fred 780-524-8707
Lethbridge Ft. Whoop Up
Aug 31, Sept 1& 2 don.d.mackenzie@
gmail.com
Moose (rather than
buffalo) scope, Valleyview
Sept 6-8
Silhouette shoot,
Valleyview
TBA Last Sept
Thanksgiving Shoot,
Camrose
Oct 12, 13 & 14
Thanksgiving Shoot,
Pincher Creek
Oct 12, 13 & 14
Ainsley (780 672 0412)
page 16
2013 Out of Alberta
Sasquatch Marauders
May 10 -12
Kelvin (604) 796-3306
Snohomish Valley 25th Annual
rendezvous
May 17 – 18
Harold (360)-387-2625
West Coast Rangers Rendezvous
May 17 - 20
Monashee Mountain Men Rondavour
2013, Salmon Arm Fish & Game Range
May 18, 19, 20
MIKE (250) 832-8188
JACK (250) 832-2541
DAVE (250) 868-2750
Interlake Mountain Men,
Sedro Wooley, WA
June 7, 8,9
Larry (206)310-5530
[email protected]
Steve (206)574-6662
[email protected]
David Thompson
rendezvous, Cranbrook (Fort Steele)
June 8 & 9
Black Powder Rendezvous,
Casino Rifle Range
June 22 & 23
Colin 250-362-5048
19th Annual B.E.A.R. Rendezvous,
Kelowna, BC
Jun 28 – Jul 1
Stephanie (250)765-0830
Dave (250) 868-2750
Libby, Montana
Jul 20 & 21
Blaeberry River
Rendezvous Golden, BC
July 27 & 28
Ridgedale Summer Mountain Goat
July 27 & 28
th
Rendezvous, 6 Annual, Abbotsford, BC
Wheel Chair accessible for Rifle ,
Hawk & Knife
Elko, B.C.
Aug 10, 11
Beechy, Sask.
Aug 16, 17, 18
Heffley Creek, B.C. (near Kamloops)
Aug 23 - Sep. 2
Colby (250-344-7877)
[email protected]
Ian (604)856-1159
Sandy (306 859 2068)
Articles needed
If you have any articles, pictures or stories for future publishing in the newsletter, please send
them to [email protected] . I’m working with Microsoft Office 2010, sending articles in electronic
form is greatly appreciated. I have the ability to scan in and create Office Documents, but I sometime
miss scanning mistakes. The deadline for the next newsletter will be Jun 24, 2013. Remember that the
newsletter is only as interesting as the articles that you supply.

Alberta Black Powder Association Newsletter May/Jun 2013 page 1

Transcription

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