Former Times Brand Flints

Made from top quality flint to ensure longevity and the very hottest spark, Former Times' hand made reproduction 18th century style gunflints are the perfect choice for shooters looking for authenticity and reliability. Each flint is hand made by a master flint knapper in the finest European tradition, utilizing techniques practiced for over 300 years. They are available now in eight sizes suitable for use in virtually any size lock.

These Look Different?

The gunflints most familiar to shooters today are known as platform or flake style flints. They represent the most modern form of flint design and manufacture. For the majority of the flintlock era, however, the flints in most common use were what are today referred to as wedge or spall type flints. Former Times' craftsmen have worked hard to resurrect this early style of gunflint and the techniques required to form them. Reaction has been enthusiastic, there being no other commercial supplier of these types of flints here in the USA. (All others are producing platform or flake style flints in the French or Brandon, England style.)

Do They Work Differently?

Well, yes…and no. Former Times' early style flints perform exactly as they did during the period of their use - from the early 1600s through to the 1780s and 1790s when their popularity waned in favor of modern platform flints. In form, the edges of wedge flints may not be as uniformly sharp as those found on platform flints, but because of the different fracturing method used to create the blades their edges may be renewed/sharpened multiple times by knapping. Additionally, Former Times' 18th century style flints often possess more than one sharp edge which may be utilized by reorienting the flint in the jaws.