Small siler question

[Cory Joe Stewart]

I got a small siler lock in a trade so I am not sure who made it.  The inside plate is stamped with an S in a circle and a 4 digit number. 

My question is the bottom of the tumbler sticks out past the bottom of the lockplate just a hair?  If I make room in the inlet it will not be a pretty inlet and as it is right now I think it is what is causing some issues with the lock firing in half cock.  It will not do it out of the stock. 

Is this normal for a small siler?  Can anyone provide any solutions to the problem. 

Regards,

Coryjoe

[Jim Chambers]

Back in the 70's and 80's there were a number of guys who specialized in assembling Siler locks.  Back then Siler locks were available only in kit form from Bud Siler.  If memory is correct the "S" in a circle was used by a guy named Ken Stuck (deceased).  He assembled hundreds of Siler locks.  Another builder that comes to mind is Dick Herring(also deceased).  When I purchased the Siler company Dick had just finished his 7000th Siler lock.
If the mainspring on your lock is not right at the end of the tumbler foot you can simply grind away the part of the tumbler that hangs below the edge of the plate.  We have to do this on a very few of the locks we assemble here in the shop.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Wow, it is great to get some history on this lock.  After inspecting it, I think the material can be removed, the casting lines are still on it.  Thanks for your help.

Coryjoe

[LH]

I got one of those years ago and didn't notice the tumbler toe sticking down like that til I had inlet the plate.  I just inlet for the tumbler inside the plate inlet so that it cleared ok but didn't have a gap along the bottom of the plate inlet.  You just have to tilt the lock out at the top to remove it. I still shoot that gun quite a bit.  Won the South Carolina state match with it this past spring in fact.  That lock has probably been cycled at least a million times.  Its on its third frizzen.  The first two finally broke off when they got about as thick as a folded piece of paper Two or three mainsprings and four barrels later,  that rifle is still runnin strong.  Looks a little rough, the wood around the top of the lock mortise is burnt away some and its got some dings here and there,  but I've had a lot of fun with it over  the years.  I think I'll keep it.   

[Don Getz]

Over the years we used a lot of Siler flint locks made by Dick Herring, he did a great job on them..........Don