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

[smithy]

On April 6, 2024, we embarked on what initially seemed like a wild idea. We decided to construct our own lock from scratch, and just like in the legend we're taking inspiration from Mason (top). And so our journey began...

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[smithy]

I remember numerous tries and retries in our effort to approximate the geometry. At that stage, we were uncertain if it would succeed, but we certainly learned a lot.

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[smithy]

During the lock's development, we began to believe it might just work, so we moved forward to create a base frame to mount the lock. The initial idea for this firearm was to imagine what an 1800s gunsmith would craft if he had seen a 1911. We began with a very basic form, constructing a rough shape from steel-reinforced fiberglass.

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[smithy]

We ended up needing 4x silicon molds to make a rough shape that could be quickly reproduced and sanded into final shape.

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Each side feature required a new mold/cast.

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[smithy]

The lock development continues on. It was at this point the pistol started to take on a personality. Fire chicken.


The term "cock" in "flintlock cock" relates to the part's shape and function, resembling a rooster's head or beak when viewed from certain angles, particularly when the hammer is at full cock or when the gun is upside down. The cock is the part of the flintlock mechanism that holds the flint, and when it's drawn back, it looks somewhat like a rooster's head, hence the name. This terminology has historical roots and is part of the traditional naming conventions for firearms components.

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I bet we made at least 10x trigger configurations to get it just right.

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[smithy]

The barrel is the only component of this gun that we didn't design or make ourselves. We plan to craft our own barrels eventually, but we're not there yet. Currently, we've opted for a cost-effective Jukar barrel from Spain. These are octagonal barrels, and we used them to mold and cast mock barrels for further shaping of the frame.

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[smithy]

It's beginning to form, about two months into development. This was the first moment we could see what we were dealing with, leading to numerous adjustments in our approach.

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[smithy]

Creating a mold for the frame during development was wise, as it facilitated rapid testing of various designs and configurations. We ended up with a stack of six prototype frames that didn't pass muster, including the one shown in the photo.

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[smithy]

There were countless moments during this project where we doubted our sanity. It's tough to keep going with this amount of work, unsure if the lock would even ignite. If you're at this stage... Keep pushing forward!

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It's now early July 2024 and we finally have a rough shape and matching mold! The below picture is pretty close to the final layout.

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[smithy]

This part is going to get boring but you get the idea.. fit, refit, fail, fail, fail, fail, fail, success! That pretty much sums it up.

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