Water drain pan

[Scott Bumpus]

I saw a reference to a Mark Silver lock with a water drain pan.  What is a water drain pan?

[smart dog]

Hi Scott,
I am not familiar with the lock in question but it usually means a pan that has a raised lip, which acts as a gutter to keep water from getting into the pan.  Some locks had slots or drain holes cut around the raised lip to drain water.  On other locks the pan was a pedestal separate from the fence and bolster for the frizzen preventing water from draining into the pan. All of those features worked to some extent but black powder is so hygroscopic that it eventually absorbs moisture from the environment anyway.

dave

[northmn]

Go to TOW and look at the late English locks.  The L&R Bailes locks, the Durs Egg, and the English waterproof some use on flintlock Hawkens.  They all have that type of pan.  The flash gate at the rear of the pan does not connect to the pan and everything is rounded so that water runs off.  It was said that the top English locks were tested by priming them and putting the thumb over the hole where the lock fits up against the barrel and placing them in a water bucket for a bit.  They had better flash when removed.  Whether that is true   I have a couple of them, but to be honest, I still prefer to use things like cows knees if I get caught out in the rain and do not hunt in the rain if I can help it.  Some old saying about sense enough to come in out of the rain.

DP

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

modern version:



Old English version:

[Swampwalker]

Yes Scott, I remember seeing a picture of a M. Silver lock with a drain just like the Griffin lock pictured above. 

[Robby]

Caywood makes a lock with a weeper hole at the base of the fence, similar to the one shown.
Robby

[Scott Bumpus]

Thanks to all for the info.  Great pics tim, thanks

[Stan]

In the pre waranted lock period there were a few makers who cut a slot in the pan in front of the fence & behind the frizzen to allow water to draining off of the frizzen to fall through the pan.
Stan

[flehto]

Seeing water coming down the side of the bbl would be rather difficult to seal w/ the frizzen....are all these "waterproof pan"  innovations futile attempts to fix the impossible?.....Fred

[Stan]

I have found over the last 45 years that the best way to waterproof the pan is to seal the frizzen with patch lube!

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Well, The "best" way is to stay in the house!!   
But patchlube does work well....bear grease!!