The Muzzle Blasts article reminded me of a story told to me by a now departed friend, when I was still a young man learning this business.
John worked in the oil industry, so he enlisted the help of his maintenance guys to "improve" the performance of one of his flintlocks.
They had some magic hard surfacing rods that were used to reface the wear surfaces on certain drilling equipment.
John acquired some of these, and applied one to the face of the frizzen whilst heating it red hot with a cutting torch. What else would he use?
Apparently, the pool comprised of little chunks of carbide, or some material like that, which floated around in a pool of molten metal. Eventually, he got
them herded into some semblance of order, and when everything solidified, quenched the part.
Of course, the face needed reshaping. Several grinding wheels later, the face somewhat resembled a suitable striking surface. In other words, he got the high points knocked off.
But it didn't spark at all.
He eventually went with a new carbon steel face.
John was a good man, like so many I have met in my years in this business. I cherish the memories of the times we spent on the range.
