Author Topic: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK  (Read 8423 times)

BIGSWEY

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BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« on: October 16, 2010, 03:03:36 AM »
Hi folks new to the forum, perhaps you can help. I have been shooting percussion for several years and really wanted a flintlock. Had a spell today when I saw a pretty nice .50 caliber maple stock flintlock  in the pawn shop...it was cheap. Left handed. So I thought what the heck and bought it. Could be kinda fun to shoot even if it is left handed. When I got it home I started looking at it and started to think, wait a second, this thing looks pretty old, maybe real old. Only markings on it are a very nicely engraved lock with lots of grime and a barely readable "Bart maybe an o in very nice script. The gun store had Barton on the tag. Does anyone know anything relevant. I'll post some pics tommorrow.
thanks BIGSWEY

scooter

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2010, 05:39:43 PM »
Sellers, American Gunsmiths, listed no BARTO found by others or even himself. There are quite a few gunsmiths named Barton various researchers found and Sellers copied. Usually lock markings take us absolutely nowhere since nearly all were sold through hardware stores, etc., and made abroad. Where US or European made makes little difference since in most cases it has nothing to do w/ who assembled the gun. We await photos.

Offline Hurricane ( of Virginia)

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2010, 10:19:27 PM »
One is appropriately cautioned not to fire an "original" muzzleloader without "expert" advice re:       " personal danger and risk and also destroying a valuable piece of American history."
Hurricane ( I have never shot a gun, but add caution as a physician)
« Last Edit: October 16, 2010, 10:21:13 PM by hurricane »

BIGSWEY

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2010, 01:26:07 AM »
OK thanks  I won't shoot it, now if I can only figure out how to post pictures

BIGSWEY

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2010, 01:49:44 AM »

BIGSWEY

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2010, 01:51:44 AM »

BIGSWEY

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2010, 01:55:32 AM »

BIGSWEY

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2010, 01:57:33 AM »

BIGSWEY

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2010, 01:59:42 AM »

BIGSWEY

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2010, 10:31:41 PM »
What is up, 242 views and nobody knows anything?? Is it junk, bad pictures, or what? Bigswey

Online T*O*F

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #10 on: October 18, 2010, 02:00:10 AM »
Quote
What is up, 242 views and nobody knows anything??

Everybody knows something, they just ain't offerin' any opinions.

Quote
Is it junk, bad pictures, or what?
Popular opinion would say that it's an amateur restock of mixed original parts
Dave Kanger

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-S.M. Tomlinson

BGC

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #11 on: October 18, 2010, 02:07:38 AM »
Looks kind of contempory to me.
Never heard of a Barto lock, but it's the first that I have ever seen that the lock bolt goes in on the lock side first and comes out the oposite side. Usually other way around.
Mercy, what long ramrod pipes!

Online T*O*F

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #12 on: October 18, 2010, 02:36:28 AM »
Quote
it's the first that I have ever seen that the lock bolt goes in on the lock side first and comes out the oposite side.

The lock is the left sided one from a double gun.  That's why the lock bolt is like that.
Dave Kanger

If religion is opium for the masses, the internet is a crack, pixel-huffing orgy that deafens the brain, numbs the senses and scrambles our peer list to include every anonymous loser, twisted deviant, and freak as well as people we normally wouldn't give the time of day.
-S.M. Tomlinson

BGC

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #13 on: October 18, 2010, 03:46:42 AM »
Thank you. I've learned something. Have never had the opportunity to examine a double gun except swivel breeches and over and under's.  Even then, I never paid that much attention to the lock bolt. Will have to look closer next time I handle one.
« Last Edit: October 18, 2010, 04:50:20 AM by BGC »

BIGSWEY

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #14 on: October 18, 2010, 03:48:57 AM »
You guys are great. I knew I came to the right spot. Question.. Why would anyone go to all the labor of putting those parts on a gun. The inletting is really god and I suspect took a long time.makes no sense.

BGC

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #15 on: October 18, 2010, 03:54:47 AM »
He probably had the parts on hand. Compared to the cost of buying quality locks and parts, it was easier and cheaper to use what he had.

Offline A.Merrill

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #16 on: October 18, 2010, 11:29:11 AM »
    I agree with TOF,    AL
Alan K. Merrill

Offline Dr. Tim-Boone

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #17 on: October 18, 2010, 03:56:44 PM »
Perhaps he thought he could start a conversation???? :o  I am not a fan of his lock and side panel edges or the beavertails that seem about triple thickness, but overall it is not an unattractive gun.  Have  you had the breechplug out yet??  Its a "Nice piece of wood".  Looks like a polyurethane finish.......?
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keweenaw

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #18 on: October 18, 2010, 04:33:25 PM »
That is definitely a contemporary piece except for the lock which looks original and is the left hand lock of a double fowler, vintage very late 1700s to early 1800s.  I would almost bet the barrel is not old, will be easy to tell by taking it out of the wood.   Depending on what you paid for it, the lock may be worth more than the cash outlay.

Tom

BIGSWEY

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #19 on: October 19, 2010, 02:01:35 AM »
Paid $150 (impulse buy fueled by a nice looking piece of wood, limited knowledge , desire to shoot a flintlock and who knows what, guess I wasn't thinking clearly.)   Based on what I have heard in this great forum I'm going to pull the barrel. Check the breech plug and either shoot it or put a plug in the barrel hang it on the wall and just shoot my .50 percussion Hawken.

keweenaw

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Re: BARTO SCRIBED ON THE LOCK
« Reply #20 on: October 20, 2010, 01:31:28 AM »
That lock is worth at least 3X what you paid for the rifle.  If it's a modern barrel it should have the maker's name on the bottom somewhere.