Mason - FA1811-FP - Flintlock - Target Pistol - Prototype

[smithy]

AND... after one more mold (our ninth), we transitioned to using steel-reinforced, dense fiberglass, resulting in the frame bearing the serial number #001.

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[smithy]

We're now into October 2024 and many key integrations have been made and a pair of grips were roughed in. As part of the design process Spacex motivated us to find any parts to delete and at this point we're confident we can eliminate one of Mason's springs. In this image we're starting to layout that configuration and starting to make a spring.

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[smithy]

I have no idea why we did it but somehow this forked into two builds in October 2024. I guess I was thinking I need something for the left too.

Enter the 1811-EP frame in a new material we've developed and affectionately nicknamed "Jiluminum".

At this point we also developed a frizzen shape and integrated but have yet to harden it for testsing. Seven months and I still don't know if it will work AND I'm building two. Doh!

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[smithy]

If you're a viewer of 'Forged in Fire' on TV, you'll soon discover that sharp edges are undesirable, and it's common practice to round them before hardening. We intentionally avoided that reality by using an old saw blade, cut to simulate a spring. We didn't intend to use it but the saw teeth had an aesthetic appeal, so we kept them.

A few weeks later, it functioned for several sessions but eventually gave out. The spring actually turned into two for added snap which you will see in later pictures and I more blame that tack weld on the failure. The current version features a purpose-built 1040 spring, but we'll always have a soft spot for that saw spring.

[smithy]

In early October the trigger mechanism is now functional and we're getting close now.

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As far as hardening the frizzen we have read so many recommendations and magic pixie dust options but we opted to simply harden the frizzen in oil and Success. We have spark!

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During initial testing you can see in the second image how the one spring turned into two (layered) to increase strength.

This spring has since been replaced but it worked the we achieved spark.

[smithy]

In late December 2024, we conducted initial tests on the 1811-FP, activating it for the first time.

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The prototype proved to be both enjoyable to use and fairly accurate from the outset. With some minor adjustments, we believe it will serve as an excellent base for creating new models and versions.

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