Hardening a frizzen

HI.

Could anyone be kind enough to forward information on 'how to harden a frizzen' on a flintlock rifle.

Traditions Hawken 50 cal. flint. Not top of the line, but she hasn't failed me yet.

Thanks. highball.

The first question is how did the frizzen get soft? Or is this a case hardened frizzen and you wore through the layer?

Generally the method for hardening a steel is to heat it to the proper temperature, cherry red in most cases, then quench it quickly in an oil bath. Then you must draw the temper to change it's unstable brittle condition by raising the temperature to about 650 degrees. This you can do by melting a pot of lead and placing the frizzen in the molten lead and let stay for a time to get hot. This works with steel that is of the the proper alloy.

If your frizzen has been case hardened and the hardened layer has been worn out, then you must re-case harden by using some chemical, Casenite is one of them, to put more carbon into the steel.

Your best bet is likely to buy a new frizzen from the manufacturer.

Have tried and best advice is sell it, unless you are died in the wool serious about flintlocks or live in PA

I would check out http://www.dixiegunworks.com. If you don't see what you need on the website, give them a call.

Track of the Wolf can supply the needed compound and instructions www.trackofthewolf.com Good hunting, fellow flinter!