AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: gibster on April 23, 2024, 05:11:28 PM
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I was lucky enough to pick up an original Joseph Golcher flintlock lock that looks to have never been installed on a rifle. The frizzen face has no marks from a flint ever striking it. I haven't taken it apart (and have no intention to), and all the visible parts other than the springs and screws are stamped with a 7. The screws don't appear to have ever been turned. It was in another very knowledgeable collectors collection for over 40 years. I bought it for a southern rifle that I have that could use a better lock than what is in it, but this one is to good to use. So it will stay in it's current state and not be used.
(https://i.ibb.co/drV7XGq/20240423-084328.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FKyncgM)
(https://i.ibb.co/6gRvxn6/20240423-084302.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KFjNk0C)
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You should play the lottery. Nice Find.
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Well that's certainly a nice find!
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Very cool- about when would this have been made?
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Does it have a half cock notch? A fly? They vary a lot.
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Just a guess, but I would think it was made 1820-25 time frame, give or take a few years. Others may have a better ides when it was made.
There is a half cock notch but no fly.
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I bought a few other locks from the same collection. I specifically told the seller, "This would be perfect for someone making a later TN rifle."
I would use it. It was made to be used! Use that sucker and put it to work! It's been sleeping a long time, I think it's ready to wake up. ;D
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So what web-site did you guys find these on?
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Wow! Thats a nice find!
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I was under the impression that when new hardware store locks were sold, they did not have the bolt holes positioned, drilled and threaded... that job was left for the purchaser or gunsmith for when fitting on the gun.
Shelby Gallien
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I recently picked up a NOS G. (George) Golcher percussion lock that had not been cut for the drum. It was drilled and tapped for the lock bolt, which was included.
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I was under the impression that they always came drilled, tapped and included the mounting screws? ???
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I was under the impression that when new hardware store locks were sold, they did not have the bolt holes positioned, drilled and threaded... that job was left for the purchaser or gunsmith for when fitting on the gun.
Shelby Gallien
They would have to be - the plates were generally casehardened also, not going to drill and tap that without ruining expensive bits. As I see it, the bolt holes basically go in approximately the same spots on every gun/lock, so there's no need to fuss with placement like we tend to do today. Period gunstockers clearly had no qualms about filing big notches across the breech lug or across the underside of the barrel.
Also imho (based upon experience with an awful lot of old locks) while there surely wasn't a 'standard' bolt size/thread, and certainly not over extended time into the 'late' period (i.e. comparing 1750s to 1860s), one heck of a lot of old locks of the early 18th century up through the early 19th century seem to match up fairly closely with modern 3/16 X 24 (10-24). I almost suspect that many locks sold through merchants or stores may have included a pair of lock bolts; there are a lot of old rifles out there with bolt threading a lot further up the shank than necessary. Like buying a pair of threaded bolts from Track for example that are threaded halfway up the darn length of the bolt shank to allow for a lot of breech width adjustment, vs buying a pair of blanks and threading them yourself so that the threads can't overtighten to kingdom come and crack the wood.
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Seems that would be ideal for an original that needed a lock as apposed to a new build. We have lots of new lock available but original guns that need a lock deserves this one.
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Wow!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Thanks for sharing this amazing lock. I'd be thrilled to even have a copy of it!
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I put a left hand Goucher on my Gillespie rifle. These parts came from Chris Hirsch and were cast from an origiWorks great.
(https://i.ibb.co/M1HT4Jp/Golcher-outside.jpg) (https://ibb.co/n1y2vKf)
indian clinic tulsa (https://nonprofitlight.com/ok/tulsa/indian-health-care-resource-center-inc)
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Great lock! Good idea not to use it. It needs to remain in it's original condition. Great piece. Here's a photo of the original left hand Golcher lock in my collection. I used this lock to make the molds for the castings used on the lock shown in another post. Never mounted on a gun and polished bright from the factory. Chris Hirsch https://www.texasguntrade.com/parts.htm
(https://i.ibb.co/VNBzBdV/lefty1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9vY1YJn)
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Awesome Lock Chris, If I were a lefty I'd buy one. :D