fly plate

[whitebear]

On another forum I just saw a picture of an original percussion lock (Hawken?) that had a fly plate rather than the usual small fly.  I understand that the plate is supposed to do the same job as a fly but how is it made, attached, and operate? I have never seen or heard of this before.

[Jim Kibler]

I'm not sure about your terminology.  Perhaps it's referring to the type of fly that has a hole in it and wraps around the tumbler shaft rather than having it's own post to pivot on?

[Bob Roller]

I have seen one arrangement for a fly that was on an English lock that
had the fly pivoting on the small axle of the tumbler that comes thru the
bridle.It was stopped in its travel in both directions by pins.This would be a way to
install a fly if a milling machine wasn't available.

Bob Roller

[C Wallingford]

I'm not sure about your terminology.  Perhaps it's referring to the type of fly that has a hole in it and wraps around the tumbler shaft rather than having it's own post to pivot on?

Doc Haddaway, and I am sure others, used this method of installing the fly.

[Dave B]

This may well be one of the types described where  the fly is pivoting around the axis of the tumbler. Its the biggest fly I have ever seen and could be classified as a plate.

[Bob Roller]

I'd bet that is a slick working lock. Is there a makers name in it?

Bob Roller

[Captchee]

I would agree with Bob , thats a dang nice lock

[Mark Elliott]

I am going to third that, that is an excellent piece of work.

[whitebear]

I found this on "The Muzzleloading Forum" under members photos, it is on an original Hawken rifle lock.

[Pete G.]

That might even be a fly that I could find after dropping it. I have not found one yet in any other lock.

[Dave B]

The name is not clear on the face of the lock maybe some one here can make it out. It may say C. Ingram?  These pics were copied from another members post so I have only these two photos of it.

[jerrywh]

 This is what I call an English fly because you will see them on Wagdon Locks amoung others.

[westbj2]

The lock was on a .451 Match Rifle by Charles Ingram.  I took the picture about 15 years ago....apparently it has  been travelling around the net.  I cant recall if the lock was marked by the maker. 
If you look closely, the upper part of the fly body has been thinned leaving what effectively is a pendulum at the end.  Apparently an attempt to speed up the movement of the fly.
The long surface of the bottom of the fly really eases the transition past half cock.
Jim Westberg

[Acer Saccharum]

Jim, I recognized your purple carpet!

[Jim Kibler]

When and where this type of fly was developed, I'm not sure.  I'd guess the fly in general was a Germanic development given their use of rifle and set triggers.  The Germanic lock on RCA #42 (1760's likely) has a fly that wraps around the small tumbler shaft and when I built a copy of this lock, I included this feature.  It's a set-up that works quite well.  Seems to be a little more substantial and stable than the typical little flies used. 

[Dphariss]

Don't need as much bridle to hold it in place.

Dan

[Bob Roller]

Dave B,
Can you send the picture of the internals of this lock to me at
<bobroller@frontier.com>? I collect pictures of fine locks and
mechanisms whenever I can get them.Many thanks.
I think the lock may be made by Stanton.The fishtail bridle is
often seen in his locks.

Bob Roller