file for a flintlock frizzen

[bamaranger]

In conversation with a fellow the other day, he related how a local 'smith in his area creates/modifies flintlock frizzens by welding and shaping a piece of an old file. Seems genius to me, anybody heard of this?

I wonder if they heat it first, weld and shape, then quench? Could the length of file be worked and welded without heating first?

 

[Oliver Sudden]

It’s best to anneal the file then do the shaping and attaching before hardening. Often the hard face is either solder or brazed on the frizzen, a blacksmith could forge weld it on.

 

[Jim Watson]

Modern version of "half sole" on a frizzen. In the day, the frizzen would be case hardened and when the case wore through, the gunmaker would solder on a new face of steel.

 

[4V50 Gary]

Files are extremely hard steel. You're right in that they should be annealed first before filing.