lock kit

[Abiel Curtis]

Greetings,
I am curious as to whether any persons here hath seen or made use of this lock kit:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/182159458275?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
If so, was it worthwhile?

[Scota4570]

Just finished a Siler casting set today.  The Siler set is about 100 bucks.  So, only a little more.   The springs are already heat treated.  In hind site, I would not do it again unless I absolutely had to for some special project.  There were a lot of issues I did not see coming.  It took me about 20 hours.  IT was my first, I'm not very happy with it yet.  There are some geometry problems I may never overcome. 

That casting set looks extremely rough.   I bet it would take me a week.  That is too long for me. 

[little joe]

That looks like rifle shoop parts and they are rough, pretty high skill level needed.

[Bob Roller]

Greetings,
I am curious as to whether any persons here hath seen or made use of this lock kit:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/182159458275?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
If so, was it worthwhile?

Maybe Rifle Shoppe,maybe not.A small lathe would be useful with this project.
I haven't got involved with these kits and am too old to start now.

Bob Roller

[Ky-Flinter]

There used to be a lot of India made flint locks on eBay.  Are they selling kits now? The top of the cock on this one looks odd to me.

If you want to build a lock from a kit, you would be much better off with a Chambers Siler kit.  It comes with ALL the parts, screws, etc. and a set up spacer that helps with drilling the bridle holes.

-Ron

[SingleMalt]

I have one that I haven't tackled yet. It's crude. The builder will have a ton of filing to do to finish it. Lots of flash and the cast in engraving runs from passable to very, very faint. I've wondered if a Chambers Early Ketland with some mods wouldn't work just fine. My experience with TRS locks is that the casting quality is better, when you get the parts.

[retired fella]

I agree Single malt,  did a Chamber's kit (Siler) on my last build just to say I did it.  Approx. 10 hours in including polishing and turned out great.  Only power tool is a drill press.  Turned out great.  Complete and detailed instructions included.  Be careful of tapping your holes.  That plate of tough stuff.  Good luck with your build Abiel.

[Telgan]

I believe it to be a " 1776 Contract Rilfe " #509 Rifle Shoppe lock set. Looked at the catalog and my copy of the lock - Even the top of the cock matches ...

[Hungry Horse]

 I would pass on this kit for a first lock build. You really aren't going to find better quality, and ease of assembly, than you will in a Chambers kit. And they are just good people as well. I got an old Siler flintlock in a trade, that had been built by someone that thought they knew how to improve it. I needed several parts to unimproved it, and contacted Jim Chambers to purchase them. We talked on the phone, and he ended up sending me the parts at no charge. This was a lock built before he bought Bud Siler's company. Now the only time I use anything but a Chambers lock, is when he doesn't make the style I require.

 Hungry Horse

[SingleMalt]

I believe it to be a " 1776 Contract Rilfe " #509 Rifle Shoppe lock set. Looked at the catalog and my copy of the lock - Even the top of the cock matches ...

You're correct that it's a lock for a British 1776 Rifle. There were two styles, one English and the other German, like a Jaeger. This is, or course, the British lock.