MYSTERY OBJECTS
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Sorry, no, not magnetite.
Nullius in verba: On the word of no one (Motto of the Royal Society)
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
A sample of black flint without any of the normal flecks of silica impurities.
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Now there's a man who knows flint when he sees it! Plaques has solved the first part of the puzzle. Now for the second part. It isn't just a bit of old flint picked up of the beach - what's special about it?
Nullius in verba: On the word of no one (Motto of the Royal Society)
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
I know next to nothing about flint other than it can give a very sharp edge of around 1 atom thick. Makes a big spark when rubbed on iron. Probably first owned by Big Grunt the caveman. Also maybe American origin.
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Starting to guess now. Does black flint contain more carbon making it slightly harder therefore shaving off thinner shards of iron which will spontaneously ignite when exposed to oxygen. ie bigger sparks. My chemistry stopped at GCE.
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
No, you're over-thinking this. What has flint been used for - you've already mentioned making sparks but what for?
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- Stanley
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Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
That sounds plausible Kev..... (He lurks and then pops in at the last minute.... )
Stanley Challenger Graham
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Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Kev's right, it's for a flintlock gun but there's still more to discover. When do you think the flint was cut and where? Who would have used it? You're not getting off this easily!
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- Steeplejerk
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Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
The flint from the gun that shot Abraham Lincoln
Work,the curse of the drinking class (oscar wilde)
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
An interesting idea, but no, it's a lot more recent than that. In fact surprisingly recent and not for killing people!
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Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
That particular weapon was a percussion cap 0.44 calibre single shot Derringer.
Ian
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Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
From government stocks at the Tower for the Brown Bess musket.
Stanley Challenger Graham
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scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Stanley has got close with the word musket but the gunflint shown in my photo was not from government stocks at the Tower and not for the Brown Bess musket. It has been knapped into a wedge-shape to fit in the jaws of a flintlock, and was made in the early 1950s using top quality flint from one of the best known locations in Britain and for use in a specific type of gun. Anyone want to suggest what type of gun, it's use and where?
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- Steeplejerk
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Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
I had to look that one up! But no, not a Holkem musket. I'll give you a clue - the flints were still being made in Britain in the early 1950s for export to South Africa.
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Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
I’m with you
Gloria
Now an Honorary Chief Engineer who'd be dangerous with a brain!!!
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk
http://www.lfhhs.org.uk
Now an Honorary Chief Engineer who'd be dangerous with a brain!!!
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk
http://www.lfhhs.org.uk
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Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Elephant gun came to my mind.
But big flints were also used in flintlocks for large cannon. Is there a large cannon in S Africa used for signal purposes that needs a flint?
But big flints were also used in flintlocks for large cannon. Is there a large cannon in S Africa used for signal purposes that needs a flint?
Stanley Challenger Graham
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scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
A Blunderbuss for shot-gun weddings
No, I didn’t think so.
No, I didn’t think so.
I know I'm in my own little world, but it's OK... they know me here.
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Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
But I like the idea Cathy!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!