Early Ketland on an early Reading?

[Jim McQuaide]

I've started my next build, an early Reading along the lines of RCA 26 or 31. I have a Chambers early Ketland laying around my shop that I really want to use for this project, the lock size and lines flow beautifully with the long lock panels on these two rifles. Should I attempt a "Germanification" of this lock by shortening the nose a bit, faceting the pan and beveling the edges, or just leave it how it is? I can't find any evidence of early Readings with english locks, unless they are an obvious replacement. Opinions? Many thanks.

[Daniel Coats]

Here's what David Dodds used on my early Reading. It's a modified Chambers early Ketland.

Photo courtesy Curt Lyles

[Jim McQuaide]

Thanks, Daniel - that is exactly what I am looking to with the lock. Beautiful rifle, btw!

[smallpatch]

I used a Gunmaker’s lock, and shaped it as close as I could .

[Jim McQuaide]

Hi Dane - that lock looks almost exactly like the original, thanks for posting. Any other photos of that rifle you would like to share, especially the cheekpiece? It's my first attempt at the early Reading school, and the cheekpiece molding looks a bit tricky to get right.