Hammer spring material

[gbritnell]

My brother picked up an old flintlock rifle. The striker plate spring is broken. It must have been formed and then hardened. Could anyone tell me what type of steel would be used to replicate this spring. It is the spring that has a single mounting screw, goes out about 1.75 and then double back on itself.
gbritnell

[JCHannum]

Generally, any of the low to medium carbon steels will work. 1075, 1095 or 1070. Rough grind and file to shape, heat and bend and then polish it bright, polishing in the long dimension.

Heat and quench in oil and polish again and then draw back. I draw back on the kitchen gas range in a pan of brass filings. Heat to ~650*F and allow to slow cool. It might take a couple of tries to get it right, but it usually works eventually.

[38_Cal]

What Jim says. I prefer 1095 spring stock, but have used 1070 with success also. Practice on a piece of scrap bent to a V shape. 625-650 F will be a "peacock blue" color in natural light.

David

[Gazz]

A piece of old leaf spring would work. Forge file or grind it (or all of them) to the shape you need and harden in warm vegetable oil. The Brownells catalog give a good procedure on making a spring. It goes something like this, wrap with soft iron wire and harden in oil, place everything in a can and wet with oil. Ignite the oil and let it all burn off. As it says in the catalog, you either have a spring or you don't.

The thing you are calling a striker plate is called a frizzen.

[Rustybolt]

It might take a couple of tries to get it right, but it usually works eventually.



That needs to sewn on a sampler.

Sorry.
As you were.

[bob_s]

Low carbon steel 0.05% - 0.25% carbon

mild steel 0.16% - 0.29% carbon

High carbon steel 0.3% - 1.3% carbon


1095 -->> 0.95% carbon

[RWO]

You might find a replacement frizzen spring here: http://www.dixiegunworks.com/default...67_588_241_247

They also sell spring material:
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/default...67_588_241_242

RWO

[hareng]

I will guarantee that Brownells method not to work.

No need to grind you'll be there all week, just need a saw and files, made loads for the best in the trade worldwide.

Leaf springs going to be your best bet, just anneal it and it will then be good to work with.
Make it in the flat state then turn it leaving lengths longer. If you cut it out like wire cut springs they dont look right and most importantly dont have the strength.

[Gazz]

I have used the Brownells method many times with success every time. I have even gas welded broken springs together and followed those directions with success. When I weld springs, I use an old coil spring for filler wire.

[rolland]

I have used brownells method as described and it works just fine, in fact I have a gunsmithing book from the 1880's that describes the same method but uses sperm oil. No whales in AZ anymore so I use mineral oil.

I have some annealled spring stock if you need a piece. let me know the width and lenght and I will put a piece in the mail. Have made many springs from this stock.