43 
Art of Making Gun- Flints. 
after which he continues to strike off other similar por- 
tions of the pure silex. These pieces are nearly an inch 
and a half wide, two inches and a half long, and one 
sixth of an inch thick in the middle. 
They are slightly convex within, and consequently 
leave a space somewhat concave, terminating longitudi- 
nally in two lines, somewhat projecting, and nearly strait. 
The prominent edges produced by the fracture of the first 
scales, must afterwards constitute nearly the middle of 
the subsequent pieces ; and those pieces only, in which 
they are found, can be used to form gun-flints. 
In this manner the operator continues to cleave, or 
scale the stone in different directions, until the natural 
defects of the mass render it impossible to make the frac- 
tures required, or until the piece is reduced too much to 
receive the small blows which separate the pieces. 
3. To fashion the flint. 
The gun-flint, Fig. 7* may be distinguished into flve 
parts, namely, 1. the edge, or bevel part, which strikes 
the hammer or steel. This is two or three twelfths of an 
inch in width. If it were broader it would be too liable 
to break, and if more obtuse it would not afford a brisk 
lire. Sdly. The side edges, which are always somewhat 
irregular. 3dly. The back edge, most remote from the 
hammer where the stone possesses its intire thickness. 
4thly. The under surface, which is smooth and slightly 
convex. And 5thly. The upper face, which is slightly 
concave, and receives the action of the upper claw of the 
cock, in which it is fixed for service. 
In order to fashion the stone, those scales or chips are 
selected, which have at least one longitudinal prominent 
angle. One of the two edges is fixed on to form the stri- 
king edge ; after which the two sides of the stone which 
are to form the side edges, and that which is to form the 
hinder edge are successively placed with the convex sur- 
