Quote Originally Posted by Turnup View Post
Agree and more: I am not a flint shooter but when I was taught how to do it my mentor (something of an expert on duelling) told me to put a straightened paper clip into the flash hole and prime only up to the base of the flash hole, then remove the paper clip. He told me that this gave faster ignition because the burning powder was not impeded by powder in the flash hole. I was sceptical that this would work at all but it performed faultlessly. The gun I was privileged to be allowed to use (an original Manton no less!) had been breathed on and gave very fast ignition - approaching that of a percussion lock. Kinda spoilt me for lesser guns.
A lad at the club bought an original Manton flintlock pistol, I think he paid about Ł900 for it. It was in a well used condition but not poor, if you know what I mean.
He decided it is too valuable to use and did not want to risk damaging it by using it so it now hangs on his wall at home.