Mule ears. Where to begin?

[BrentD]

A friend in Nebraska is looking to build a mule ear rifle.  The L & R lock seems to be the logical place to begin, and then build a rifle around it.  I found a number of suppliers of the lock in various places, but no precarved stocks came to light. May have missed them, but if anyone knows of a vendor with the locks and the stocks, that might be helpful.  I think a half-stock Hawken style would suit him well.

Any comments about the L&R lock or any special considerations for mating it with a breech and trigger set of some sorts?  Constructive comments are always welcome.

[FALout]

I’m pretty certain your not gonna find a precarve stock specifically for the mule ear lock.  If you do a search, you might find some pics of originals, most likely half stocks, doubt you will find a Hawken with those style of lock.  You could use a precarve that doesn’t have lock inletting or just go with a blank.

Bob

[R Whittington]

I’m pretty sure the L&R mule ear uses the same lock plate as their Durrs egg flint.

[BrentD]

R Whittington, I just learned that!  Yes it does.  Not sure what sorts of Rifles Durrs Egg locks were intended, but it is a lead to follow up.  Otherwise, I think Bob's suggestion of a precarve w/o a lock inlet would be best for my friend. 

[Roger B]

The L&R mule ear was built to "interchange" with their Durs Egg. Obviously the inletting the internals is different   but the plate should fit. Or so they told me a few years back. Double check with them before spending money on a stock.
Roger B.

[okawbow]

Made a plain, walnut stocked table match rifle using the L&R lock. Works well. Very fast and dependable ignition. Just be sure to use a nipple the right length to fit flush to the inside of the bore, so no fouling can build up.

[Hungry Horse]

 I’d check with Knob Mountain about getting a pre-carved stock for a side slapper. The lock being interchangeable with the L&R Durs Egg is a big advantage. Good luck.

  Hungry Horse

[Daryl]

Side slappers are interesting locks, indeed.

[R Whittington]

I built a Tennessee flint with durrs egg. The mule ear fits perfectly.

[bvolcko]

I inherited a rifle minus lock mechanism.  After much searching I discovered its a mule ear lock I'm looking for/need.  The rifle was made by  W. Roberts Dansville NY   I think I want to make the lock myself.  What type of steel should I be looking for?

[Metalshaper]

here are the components of a Muley lock 'Kit' a friend had. Supposedly made with either a brass or steel plate. These were 1980's vintage and I never found out where/who made them?



private image hosting
an original Medberry




drawing made after measuring a Navy Arms 'Poor Boy' Muley

Respect bAlways
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[bnewberry]

Thanks for the Navy Ams sketch. This has a lot of similarities with the sidelock I am working with right now. The sear trip that works with the trigger to apply the trigger force back instead of up is the clue.

[Metalshaper]

a long bar pinned up high and arcing back with the trigger pull is another way to get the front to back movement you need.
kind of like some of the Hilliard and Kendall guns.. there is a mod to make the lock with a sear that allows for a normal style
trigger..Think its used on the LR muley..

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan



here is one of mine I started working on.. Got distracted and never really finished gettin it into a gun..The one in the background is a Medberry
that is also made by me.

[bnewberry]

I arrived at a bar, pinned high that the trigger is able to push to release the sear. I couldn’t easily pin the trigger high enough to work as well as I wanted.

Thanks!