Although any quartz bearing material can be used to
strike a spark from hardened steel, only flint or other, similar
micro-crystalline quartzose material was strong enough to hold a sharp
edge for reliable, and continued use. The ideal flint is tabular in
shape with a sharp sloping front face. The knapping of gunflints has
been an industry since the introduction of the flintlock in the early
1600's. Huge quantities of gunflints were produced during the 1700's
and early part of the 1800's and the flint knapping industries of France
and England developed a sophisticated product of nearly perfect
shape. English flints are dark grey to black whereas the French flints are easily distinguished by their honey-yellow
or blonde color. Large
quantities of gun flints were shipped to the mountains every year for
Rendezvous because they were equally useful for starting fire with fire
steels, as well as part of the ignition mechanism for guns and rifles.
spark from hardened steel, only flint or other, similar
micro-crystalline quartzose material was strong enough to hold a sharp
edge for reliable, and continued use. The ideal flint is tabular in
shape with a sharp sloping front face. The knapping of gunflints has
been an industry since the introduction of the flintlock in the early
1600's. Huge quantities of gunflints were produced during the 1700's
and early part of the 1800's and the flint knapping industries of France
and England developed a sophisticated product of nearly perfect
shape. English flints are dark grey to black whereas the French flints are easily distinguished by their honey-yellow
or blonde color. Large
quantities of gun flints were shipped to the mountains every year for
Rendezvous because they were equally useful for starting fire with fire
steels, as well as part of the ignition mechanism for guns and rifles.