Albanian Tanchika

[Treeslicer]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Rick's original preamble above suggests that it HAS been fired, but not often. The frizzen would not show wear after a few uses as flint, whilst hard, is not as hard as iron/steel. Either way it is an absolutely top notch example of a Tanchika.
Stu

Not wanting to start any controversy, but quartz (flint is a microcrystalline form of quartz) is harder than steel. Siliceous stones are commonly used to sharpen swords. Flintlocks work by using the sharp edge of the flint to slice away extremely tiny slivers of the steel frizzen, and set them on fire by impact/friction heating, making sparks of burning iron. This is why frizzens wear out through use. I've owned enough flintlocks to know that any "clatch" leaves scratches and other marks. A "habitant" like myself will get right nasty if a visiting "whuffo" attempts to dry fire one of our pieces at a rendezvous or other re-enactment.

Wasn't saying anything bad about the firearm, just saying it looks unused. A right pretty piece.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Treeslicer

Not wanting to start any controversy, but quartz (flint is a microcrystalline form of quartz) is harder than steel. Siliceous stones are commonly used to sharpen swords. Flintlocks work by using the sharp edge of the flint to slice away extremely tiny slivers of the steel frizzen, and set them on fire by impact/friction heating, making sparks of burning iron. This is why frizzens wear out through use. I've owned enough flintlocks to know that any "clatch" leaves scratches and other marks. A "habitant" like myself will get right nasty if a visiting "whuffo" attempts to dry fire one of our pieces at a rendezous or other re-enactment.

Wasn't saying anything bad about the firearm, just saying it looks unused. A right pretty piece.

I stand corrected. Just goes to show that we are all still learning. I had always understood that steel/iron was harder than flint, and it was the flint which sparked rather than the steel/iron.

[Treeslicer]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

I stand corrected. Just goes to show that we are all still learning. I had always understood that steel/iron was harder than flint, and it was the flint which sparked rather than the steel/iron.

Yup, always learning something. I think some confusion arises from the common term "flint" used for the pyrophoric rare-earth ferrocerium alloys used to make the sacrificial sparking elements in cigarette and other lighters. That substance (being relatively soft) is shaved away by the steel part of the lighter, and catches fire to make sparks.

I've wasted some time occasionally trying to use ferrocerium (scavenged from a survival-kit firelighter) in flintlock ignition, using the frizzen as the striker, so to speak, but the stuff is too frangible to withstand impact. Might work in a wheellock, though.

[Treeslicer]

Rick-

Is that barrel welded Damascus like it looks in the photos?

[Richard G]

I would guess the 'indentation' at the end of the ramrod is actually a hole through which you can thread a rag if you want to swab the barrel.
Is it my imagination, or is there script on the top jaw of the cock?
Regards
Richard

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Richard G

I would guess the 'indentation' at the end of the ramrod is actually a hole through which you can thread a rag if you want to swab the barrel.
Is it my imagination, or is there script on the top jaw of the cock?
Regards
Richard

Hi Richard,
I doubt that the indentation is actually a hole as it would considerably weaken the end of the rod. Rick will no doubt confirm or deny this when he next replies.
Stu

[TVV]

I do not think there is such a thing as "too many" tanchikas, especially if they are as nice as this one. Congratulations on a truly great piece. The barrel is most definitely damascus, and probably deserves to be etched, as it looks like a nice complex pattern on those sections where it is visible on the photos. It looks like an old Ottoman or Persian barrel, 18th century or older (per Elgood) and the rest of the gun certainly matches in quality.

Regards,
Teodor

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by Richard G

I would guess the 'indentation' at the end of the ramrod is actually a hole through which you can thread a rag if you want to swab the barrel.
Is it my imagination, or is there script on the top jaw of the cock?
Regards
Richard

Hi Richard G

No, it's just additional decorative engraving. This is the first of these common style Balkan locks I've seen with that additional engraving on the jaws of the hammer. But I guess in this case it's fitting with the rest of the gun's quality.

Rick

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by Treeslicer

Rick-

Is that barrel welded Damascus like it looks in the photos?

Hi Treeslicer

Yes, the barrel is some type of pattern damascus. But I'm not knowledgeable enough to offer a good I.D. But, I know there are members on this Forum that are really well versed in the different damascus patterns. I plan on posting the barrel only once I remove it from the stock and do a light oil cleaning. Should be interesting.

By the way, ferrocerium does in fact work very well in wheellocks. It's harder than pyrite, but still much softer than the wheel. Doesn't crumble like pyrite either.

Rick