question on siler lock

[BrianH]

how much has the siler lock changed over the years  and how close is it to the originals it was developed from. I'm talking about size of the plate mainly
thanks Brian

[Long John]

Fron what I can see the actual outline of the lock plate has changed very little if any.  The size of the hole for the tumbler has changed as has ths shaft on the tumbler that goes through the lock.

It's a great lock.  You can't go wrong with it.  There is enough steel on both the locl plate and teh cock to allow for some reshaping to give it a different look and historical context.  It's a great lock.  Oh, I guess I said that already.

John Cholin

[BrianH]

the reason i'm asking is i have a lock that looks a lot like a siler but the plate measures 4 15/16  long right between small and large siler measurements

[pathfinder]

Cockran and Hamm both had simular lock's,"back in the day"

[JDK]

Brian, Could be a Doc Haddaway lock.  The one I have is as you describe...a size between the large and small Siler.

Are there any markings on the inside of the plate?  Enjoy, J.D.

[pathfinder]

Yeah,forgot about Doc's lock's. Bob Roller shouls be chimming in soon. If ever anyone could answer a lock question,it would be Bob!

[J. Talbert]

I can't say what all the minor changes have been over the years, but I'm fairly confident that the plates of both the large and small Siler's are essentially unchanged.
If your lock measures between them, then I'd say it is a different make.  A Haddaway would be about that size.  Does the frizzen spring attach with a blind screw from the inside?

Jeff

[Bob Roller]

I haven't followed this thread closely but a picture would help.
Doc Haddaway's lock was small and had no Germanic features.
If it is a Cochran,it would look like the Chet Shoults locks that
I have been making off and on for 50 years.I helped Mr. Cochran
with this lock when he was first getting started.
Anyhow,guessing is just that so let's see a picture that's worth a thousand words.

Bob Roller

[BrianH]

I will try to get some photos tonight. The only marks are a psk stamped into the back of the lock plate
It's been converted to percussion but it was done very poorly and I would like to return it to flint

[BrianH]

heres a couple pitures hope they help some






thanks for looking
brian

[E.vonAschwege]

I'm pretty certain that is an original lock, not a Siler or any other contemporary piece.  I'd love to see a closer image of the stamp - it looks very much like a stamp on an original lock I have. 
-Eric

[BrianH]

hey Eric
do you have any ideas on how to get a better picture of the stamp its hard to make out and real hard to get to show up in photos

[BrianH]

for all interested here is a better picture of the stamp



can't tell if the last one is an r or k am leaning more toward an r
thanks brian

[Jim Chambers]

The only thing I can tell for certain about this lock is that it is NOT a Siler lock.....probably is an old original lock as someone above suggested.

[wpalongrifle]

Brian, i have a rifle i built 25 years ago!!! large Siler from Chambers. I just changed it for a new one this year. dropped in like butter!!!! couldn't believe it. Grabbed one at Dixon's. thats tight quality control..

[BrianH]

thanks everyone for the information its greatly appreciated now how do you tell from when

[JTR]

^^^^

Huh?

John

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

thanks everyone for the information its greatly appreciated now how do you tell from when

Are you asking when the original lock  in the picture might have been made??

[BrianH]

yes  is there any way to date the locks ?is there a date for when this shape lock started to be used