AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Contemporary Longrifle Collecting => Topic started by: Pittsburgh Rifleman on October 04, 2013, 04:13:47 PM
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I have recently acquired a beautiful long gun from an estate sale and was wondering if anyone has information or history on the maker. The name on top of the barrel is Lloyd D. Norris. The manufacturer of the lock was W.G. Sutter of Ruffsdale PA. I did find a bit of reference to him in a Google search. Interestingly I do not live very far from there. The gun is quite spectacular, the craftsmanship that went into it is quite amazing. I built a Hawken rifle from a kit in high school years ago and appreciate the amount of work that went into it.
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Hello Rifleman and welcome to ALR! We have had a few past discussions regarding your lock maker here on this board some time ago. If you do a search "Sutter" it should come up. I believe a member of the Sutter family was very interested in finding a lock or information about their relative. I would sure like to see pictures of your fine Norris rifle. Best to you......Joel
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Yes, I saw the thread on the young lady dating the grandson. I took some photo's but can't seem to figure out how to post them. The gun has not been shot in 30-40 years if ever. There seems to be no wear on the nipple or hammer.P1050321.JPG
P1050318.JPG
P1050320.JPG
P1050325.JPG
P1050324.JPG
P1050319.JPG
P1050323.JPG
P1050322.JPG
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That did not seem to work. How do you upload images?
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Take a close look at the lock with the W.G.Sutter marking. There were lock kits
made and sold for years thru different vendors with those markings. A real
Sutter lock was used to make the moulds from. Sutter made his own locks
and I knew the man and saw him at Friendship at a number of shoots over
the years.
Bob Roller
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That did not seem to work. How do you upload images?
You need to send them the Photobucket first then post the links to the photos using the photograph icon on the tool bar above the window.
There is a tutorial on this site
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=10.0
Dan
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Let's try Again
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1286.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa611%2Fjoelweber%2FP1050323_zps1096710d.jpg&hash=bf9aaef33600115f057b80d3683cfd1be8259925)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1286.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa611%2Fjoelweber%2FP1050324_zps58bfcd58.jpg&hash=cfaf0d386e192fee8456a5964018bc92af00f407)
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Links fixed by moderator.
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A very fine looking Bedford PA rifle you have there Rifleman! Can you give any details of the rifle's barrel length and if you can find any markings for a possible barrel maker? I appreciate you showing us your pictures.......Joel
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I saw it's twin at the Jefferson County longrifle show in august. Lloyd liked the Bedfords.
Nice looking rifle.
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Interesting,
Very hard to spot on the left side partially hidden by the wood stock.
GR DOWGLAS .45 CAL
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The barrel measures 40" to the tang.
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Is there a thread here on how to disassemble the trigger and lock mechanism? This gun has sat so long that the triggers are not releasing the hammer reliably. Needs a little TLC. If I remember correctly parts need to be in the proper position prior to disassembly or it could fly apart or springs broken.
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Well, the latch was not holding the cover closed on the patch box so I removed the brass butt plate and low and behold there was the following.
Lodge. No. 502 FAAM (Pollock Lodge Tarentum)
May 20th 1966
Rifle NO. 22
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You will find that on every Norris rifle I am told.
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I looked in my The Bedford County Rifle and It's Makers by: Calvin Hetrick and I can't find either Lloyd D. Norris. or W.G. Sutter's name.
I'll have to search the internet harder it would be interesting to learn more about them since scottdale is only 10 miles from my house.
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Kopfjaeger,
W.G.Sutter was active in the 1950's and 60's.Does that book address contemporary makers?
Also,Sutter was a lockmaker and possibly never made a rifle.I have made a very few rifles and
enjoy making them but other work takes priority.
Mr.Sutter told me he made his mainsprings from 1095 and tumblers from torsion bars salvaged
from wrecked Chryslers and '55-'56 Packards cars.
Bob Roller
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I am not sure how to tell if it is a true Sutter lock. But I did disassemble the entire rifle Lloyd did scribe his home address in Brackenridge PA under the barrel and the date he completed the rifle of May 24 1966. The lock was made from relatively crude components, and it appears to me that this rifle was never fired. Is it common for the ram rod to extend beyond the muzzle about an inch?
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A genuine Sutter lock will show evidence of bench work while
one of the kits using his name will be easily identified as a
group of cast parts.
Post a picture of both sides of the lock if possible.
A ramrod extending beyond the muzzle is not uncommon
and makes the rod easier to remove.
Bob Roller
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Norris, Lloyd D.
Brackenridge
Lloyd D. Norris, 89, of Brackenridge died Wednesday (Dec. 12, 2001) in Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh.
Born Aug. 17, 1912 in Tarentum, he lived in the Valley all his life.
He was a supervisor at the template shop, Pittsburgh Plate Glass, Creighton, for 43 years before retiring in 1976.
Mr. Norris was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Brackenridge; Masons and Historical Society in Tarentum; Syria Shrine in Harmar and Pittsburgh Scottish Rite. He was a charter member and past president of the Pennsylvania Gun Collectors, and board member and past president of the Tarentum District Sportsman's Club, where he was a member of the trap team.
Survivors include a son, Roger L. Norris of Ligonier; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Beulah M. Hoffman Norris; a daughter, Joyce Baechtel; his parents, Stephen A. and Lulu Elliott Norris; and two brothers, Marlin and Glen Norris.
Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 11 to 1 p.m. Saturday in ROBERT PETERS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 1521 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights, where services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday with his pastor, the Rev. Thomas E. Brown, officiating. Private burial will be in Prospect Cemetery, Brackenridge. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 847 10th Ave., Brackenridge, PA 15014.
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Photo's of the Lock
http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a611/joelweber/P1050326_zps7176c779.jpg
http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a611/joelweber/P1050329_zpsfe05982f.jpg
http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a611/joelweber/P1050327_zps9bc13f18.jpg
http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a611/joelweber/P1050328_zpsfe4a0d61.jpg
I'll figure this linking out eventually.