moravian lock

[mlbrant]

Would it be historicaly correct to use a siler lock on a gun that would have been built in or around the Moravian settlement of Salem, N.C. around 1755-1760? A gun built by a trained gunsmith or even perhaps a simple country blacksmith. Know they were Germans from Penn.

[bob in the woods]

I prefer the Chambers Early Germanic lock. I think the Siler is more 1770's + 
Davis also makes an appropriate lock for this style. Larger lock, more curve to the plate, and unbridled frizzen [ hammer]
seem to be more common traits for that Moravian time period IIRC.

[Rich]

I modified the Chambers Dale Johnson lock to look like the lock on the edward marshall rifle.

[blienemann]

The site for Salem, NC was chosen in 1765, and first homes/shops put up in late 1766.  There was an earlier community of Bethabara in the time you’re talking about - Andreas Betz, locksmith was there, and Valentin Beck, gunstocker came in late 1764.  I doubt that any rifles were built there in 1755-60, but some probably repaired, or sent down from Bethlehem or Lancaster.

In general for an early Moravian rifle, Davis’ colonial lock as plain lock or Chambers more high end if you want the German style, or a good English style - flat or round faced like those by Chambers, Davis and others.  The gunshop records listed both German and English locks, and both show up on original guns.  Many originals were “smooth rifles” – look just like a rifle but no rifling inside.

When established, Salem would have been supplied from Charleston, as well as by Moravian wagons coming down from Pa, so either style would be OK.