English Lock Cock Screw

[WadePatton]

Were originals ever cross-drilled? 

I've seen a contemporary or two drilled, but don't recall an original-and my Greasy Cove book is MIA.

Want to drill (for practical purposes), but don't want to throw up a "flag".  Thanks.

[RAT]

Are you talking about the top jaw screw? I think cross drilling a hole started in France with military arms in the last quarter of the 18th century. Some English military arms had this feature post 1800. Later North West trade guns had this feature (post roughly 1815). I'm writing this at work, so I don't have my reference books handy to verify dates.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Were originals ever cross-drilled? 

I've seen a contemporary or two drilled, but don't recall an original-and my Greasy Cove book is MIA.

Want to drill (for practical purposes), but don't want to throw up a "flag".  Thanks.

I like to cross drill cock screws (1/8") on MY rifles makes installing & removing the flint very easy and positive. For other clients I ask them if they want the feature. I'm not a big fan of tightening down the cock screw with a old time turnscrew which when it slips out of the slot will dig into the rifle or my hand -- my opinion.

[WadePatton]

Yes, i'm aware that the military guns usually had it.  I'm specifically referring to the late English stuff like Manton, Ketland(late), etc.

I'm mostly interested is TN and Southern, iron-mounted original guns. 

I know I've seen possibly a contemporary done this way, but have never noted (or looked for) the feature on Original guns-added by the gunsmith no doubt. 

I suspect that someone who had early and impressionable experience with military guns might carry this over into his civilian work.  Or that buyers might request it.  There, i've about convinced me that it won't be a detraction.

Lacking further evidence I'll probably just do it and see how it is received.

.. and whether I can make it whistle.   




Yes the screw that clamps the top jaw.  The other screw is the tumbler screw, as i gather.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

If you do drill it, be aware that you can put a considerable torque on the screw.  I did this ONCE but never again.  I used a 3 1/2" nail to tighten a flint in the jaws, and twisted the screw right off.  Now I use a turn screw that is the handle of my knapping hammer.

[WadePatton]

It is part of my nature to find myself bereft of my regular tools at any given moment and to need to press something else into service as necessary and possible.  The hole would open up those options a bit.   

Calibrate them powerful mitts man, quit tearing stuff up!

[PPatch]

Having seen several hundred (at the upper end) original southern guns I have never ran across one drilled so. If I had a notion to drill a lock screw that'a way I'd do it, simple as that. As Taylor says manipulating a screw that way brings much more torque to the job, easy does it.

dp

[WadePatton]

Yeah, i've twisted some bolts and screws off in my day.  Less and less as i keep recalibrating the torqus maximus.   

tnx