Reconvert an old lock

[David R. Pennington]

Thinking about converting this old lock back to flint. Stylistically would these parts be appropriate for 1810-1830’s?

[mountainman70]

You a magnet for punishment,bro. The old lock that came on my mess was engraved "Richards" lyn'bug, Mass. I would guess. Anyway, I didn't use it back on the fowler, but took the plate and worked in the pan and internals from a small siler,it now lives on a nice longrifle.
You might look into that option.Dave

[Chowmi]

I am far from a lock expert, so take this with a pound of salt please.

I’d love to try doing that. Two things that stick out at me from your pictures:
Looks like that cock would not work well on that plate, referencing the position of the frizzen. Cock screw hole seems to be lined up in the picture, so if you imagine the arc of the flint in the cock, it will strike in the lower half of the frizzen. I think you want it to strike much higher.

Next is cosmetic:
If you convert it to flint, get rid of that 90degree angle down from in front of the frizzen screw to the nose of the lock plate, does that make sense?  Those two sharp corners from the top of the bolster down to the nose of the lock plate reek of percussion lock.

(Edit for clarity) I mean round off those 90 degree angles.
Hope that all makes sense.

Cheers,
Norm.

[David R. Pennington]

Well the internal parts are still in good shape. There is less slop in the tumbler bearings than in some new locks I have gotten. The sear nose and tumbler notches very crisp still. The mainspring is a little limp. The plate is evidently case hardenend. File won’t touch it. I managed to get the riveted over frizzen pivot screw out this afternoon and started roughing out a wrought iron blank for a pan.



U

[Mtn Meek]

Stylistically would these parts be appropriate for 1810-1830’s?

Stylistically, no, those parts would not be appropriate for that lock plate and time.

An English warranted lock of that period would likely have a breasted cock and simpler designed pan and frizzen.  The original lock would have looked more like the William Moore lock that Chris Hirsch duplicated here.

http://www.texasguntrade.com/moore.htm

[David R. Pennington]

Thank you Phil, that is exactly what I needed to know.

[rich pierce]

Couple other styles. I think the double-throated cock is only found on round tailed flintlocks.




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[Bob Roller]

In years long gone I made a Ketland with double throated cock and a pointed
tail plate.It had a nice big pan I always liked because if the fire was weak due
to a dull flint it still might fire the gun.I have one set of these and may use
them on a half stock English style I have had for way too long.

Bob Roller

[David R. Pennington]

How is this, getting closer?

[rich pierce]

That cock could be filed to the proper shape.  Notice how wide it is at the base.  Phil Meek above has hit it on the head.

Here is a larger lock that’s around 1800 (I guess) that already has a later looking cock that I think is original to the lock.

[David R. Pennington]

working on a pan

[David R. Pennington]

[rich pierce]

Looking forward to seeing your progress.