Siler mystery lock

[alex e.]

I was given this large Siler flintlock . It's at least 20 years old.
It seems to be assembled well,and only test sparked.
On the back side its stamped "RH" followed  by a serial number.  Is that from Bobby Hoyt?

[t.caster]

I have one of those in my first blank built rifle. I believe it was assembled by the late Richard Harring(sp) from Michigan. I built a LOT of good quality locks in the 70s -90s.

[alex e.]

Thanks for the information.  I've never  seen one that was numbered.

[t.caster]

Yup, mine is a small Siler stamped: RH899

[John Shaw]

I've been given an old large Siler marked RH3124.

JS

[Jim Spray]

Dick Herring passed away in 2001. He also made a coil spring percussion lock as I remember. Soft spoken very nice man.

[Jim Chambers]

When I purchased the Siler company in 1991 Richard (Dick) Herring has just finished assembling his 7000th Siler kit.  I sold him many more kits before he finally gave it up.

[alex e.]

When I purchased the Siler company in 1991 Richard (Dick) Herring has just finished assembling his 7000th Siler kit.  I sold him many more kits before he finally gave it up.

Wow!

[tfornicola]

I still have 3 numbered large Siler locks on rifles built in the 1980's, all are smooth and spark great!  Tom

[stuart cee dub]

If well assembled ,these old silers can be very quick. Compared to the deluxe JChambers version of the Siler the throw on the cock is shorter .This isn't a bad thing as less travel time means a faster ignition .
If the springs are well balanced meaning the mainspring against the frizzen spring and the frizzen hard it can be a great lock .

[A.Merrill]

If well assembled ,these old silers can be very quick. Compared to the deluxe JChambers version of the Siler the throw on the cock is shorter .This isn't a bad thing as less travel time means a faster ignition .
If the springs are well balanced meaning the mainspring against the frizzen spring and the frizzen hard it can be a great lock .

   So true. I have a small Siler I bought in the 1970's and it's very east to cock and you can open the frizzen with a feather and it sparks great and its the fastest lock I've ever had. Flint's last much longer. You just don't need big heavy springs that's in locks made today. If I was younger I'd start building my own locks.   Al

[flintlock hunter]

Couldn't agree more with the old short throw Siler locks. I still have a nice collection of Siler locks made by Walter Cain. and L&S, they are the most forgiving on flints and fastest locks I have ever built a gun around.