AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: jerrywh on August 10, 2018, 09:00:31 AM
-
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjwh-flintlocks.net%2FTwigg-saftey-lock1780.jpg&hash=6a87c1f43d2a5df1ed61281aab133e482e8ff873)
There are at leas three ways to make a hook on a lock plate.
# 1 and the easiest way is to solder it on with fine silver. Fine silver solders well and melts at 1760°1f so the lock can be case hardened afterwards without the hook coming off.
# 2 is to chisel a slot in the plate and stake the hook in the slot much in the same way a barrel hoop is put in but with an elongated slot.
#3 is illustrated in the drawing below. Sometimes the hook was wide and just hooked into the wood and sometimes a lip was made on the lock plate that just hooked in the wood in the front.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjwh-flintlocks.net%2Flock-hook.jpg&hash=adf58cbc155a786a0f88f1d1a41f64b14860b59b)
There were only two logical reasons for a hook to be put on a lock plate That I can think of. #1 is so that any side plate could be used even if it did not match the holes in the lock plate. #2 is to avoid the ramrod channel with the front lock bolt . In any case it was quite common on English Firearms in the 18the century.
PS-- sometimes a small plate was placed down alongside of the barrel channel and the hook screw in the stock was threaded into the plate
-
jerrywh,
Thank you for posting this. So is this a blind hole coming from the inside of the plate that the hook screws into? It would only engage a couple threads, but it should be enough. It's a short tutorial, but this would be a great addition to the tutorial section for anyone who wants to add this to their next projects.
Greg
-
The hook type that screws into the lock plate can be a blind hole but it is not necessary. Some of the locks you see that look like they are installed with a through screw are actually hooked. Another method is to just drill a small hole in the plate and make the hook so it has a stud going through the plate. Then just stake the hook in the hole as you would put a stud on a patch box release. The stud can be put in like a rivet and filed over and cannot be seen. Any average gun maker could do this. Some people say these methods were never used on American guns but never is a harsh word. The first gun shop in Williamsburg was started by a English man from the gun makers guild in England. His name was John Brush.
-
Thanks for this, Jerry.
I think one of the biggest challenges in gunmaking is to make a really fine slim pistol. There is no margin of error, nor any extra real estate, in the lock area for the ramrod and front screw(if there is one). A hooked front would be of great service here.
-
Most informative! Thanks Jerry.
Curtis