Bob Roller and Rus Hamm locks - fair market value

[TWM]

Can someone tell me what the fair market value would be for a Bob Roller percussion lock and a Russ Hamm flintlock? Both are new. Well, when I say new, I mean that they were purchased many yeas ago but never used. The Roller lock is stamped Roller 72 which I assume is 1972. Around that time, I built a .577 Cal Hawken rifle with a Roller lock and a Bill Large barrel, a .50 Hawken with a Roller lock and a Douglas barrel, a .45 cal flintlock Kentucky rifle and a .35 cal Bedford County percussion boys rifle which I still shoot and hunt with today. Planning on building more, I bought these locks. Now, 49 years later my wife says, "why are you keeping that "stuff"? You still haven't finished the last Kentucky rifle you started years ago." Other than I always have a hard time parting with things I may need in the future, I can't really give her a good answer. Also have a set trigger, along with trigger guards and butt plates both brass and German silver,  but not sure of maker although there is a small diamond shape stamped into it. So, I am thinking they should go. If someone could help me out on a fair value, I would appreciate the feedback. Thanks, Tom

[Mike Brooks]

The Russ Hamm is worth $15 and the Roller is worth at least $350

[Stumpfre]

If the Russ Hamm lock is for sale, I would definitely be interested.

[Frank]

I have that same Russ Hamm lock and all it is good for is a wall hanger. Piece of junk!

[jgraham1]

Just picked up a Rob Roller percussion lock for $350.  High price, but a thing of beauty.  Going on a Stith fullstock Hawken I am going to have built.

Jerry

[retired fella]

The set triggers look to be North Star.  Can't remember the owners name (Gromski?)

[oldtravler61]

  DON'T think Mr. Roller is making anymore locks.  Soo the price equals how bad the person wants it.  Just saying. 
  Oldtravler

[gunmaker]

I have a Rus Hamm Siler looking flintlock I use it often when I talk to people about what you don't want in a small flintlock.

[Bob Roller]

That caplock is a squirrel rifle lock.Russ Hamm told me in 1964 that I was crazy to detail my locks and take the time it took to make them work right.My reply as I recall was the one I still use and that is "When you take my lock or trigger out of the box it will tell one and all what I think of the buyer and myself."I made a lot of Maslin flint locks on Hamm's external parts and haven't seen one for years.I got them thru a default on a bill from a foundry and  I never had any feed back from Hamm so I made a number of them until about 1980.The same thing happened in late 1962 when the Chet Shoults Ketland parts became an open market item.
I have ceased making locks of any type as of August of 2019.
Bob Roller

[TWM]

Bob.  It was  50 years ago that I bought my first Roller lock and your lock with a Bill Large barrel has been a winning combination.   My .577 caliber Hawkens weighs in at 13 pounds and I find it getting a little much.  Great when in the deer stand but no pleasure carrying it to the stand.  I am glad to hear that you are still around and still contributing to the black powder enthusiasts.  Tom

[Bob Roller]

The set triggers look to be North Star.  Can't remember the owners name (Gromski?)

I think it was "Curly"Gostomski.

Bob Roller

[wolf]

the main reason i bought this rifle is because it has a Bob roller lock in it. i have not been sorry and it aint for sale,,,,,,,,,,,,, the 3 shot group was shot at 50yds offhand an intentional accident,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Bob Roller]

the main reason i bought this rifle is because it has a Bob roller lock in it. i have not been sorry and it aint for sale,,,,,,,,,,,,, the 3 shot group was shot at 50yds offhand an intentional accident,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Is that one of the small group of Twigg locks I made a few years ago?I planned on 10 and bought external parts for that many and then 4 more made from Twigg parts furnished by 4 individuals and the last one went to South Africa.
Bob Roller

[wolf]

Bob i showed you the lock about a year ago in a pm, this is what you said.

That is a close copy of a Henry Nock and I made over 100
of them for a shop in Germany. It is very similar to the current L&R small Manton. Not many of these are
in the USA because at the time I was making them on an almost daily basis it was priced for Germany.

[retired fella]

Right you are, Bob.  Curly Gostomski.

[Bob Roller]

Bob i showed you the lock about a year ago in a pm, this is what you said.

That is a close copy of a Henry Nock and I made over 100
of them for a shop in Germany. It is very similar to the current L&R small Manton. Not many of these are
in the USA because at the time I was making them on an almost daily basis it was priced for Germany.

One of the few that didn't cross the Rhine or in this case,the Nette.I haven't made one for a long time
and gave the moulds to Les Barber at the Mould and Gun Shop in Ohio and I don't know if they ever
used them or not.Thank you for the return reply as to which lock it was.
Bob Roller

[Bob Roller]

Bob.  It was  50 years ago that I bought my first Roller lock and your lock with a Bill Large barrel has been a winning combination.   My .577 caliber Hawkens weighs in at 13 pounds and I find it getting a little much.  Great when in the deer stand but no pleasure carrying it to the stand.  I am glad to hear that you are still around and still contributing to the black powder enthusiasts.  Tom

That is a good looking rifle and I like the butt plate minus the extreme curve some of them have.I have never figured out why so many old guns have a crescent butt plate.Supposedly the Hawken is America's answer to the English sporting rifle and in a way it was but the upscale quality  of the London gun is easily seen and no crescent butt plates.
Thanks for posting this picture and I am glad to see my work of decades ago still in use.
Bob Roller

[wolf]

Bob i showed you the lock about a year ago in a pm, this is what you said.

That is a close copy of a Henry Nock and I made over 100
of them for a shop in Germany. It is very similar to the current L&R small Manton. Not many of these are
in the USA because at the time I was making them on an almost daily basis it was priced for Germany.

One of the few that didn't cross the Rhine or in this case,the Nette.I haven't made one for a long time
and gave the moulds to Les Barber at the Mould and Gun Shop in Ohio and I don't know if they ever
used them or not.Thank you for the return reply as to which lock it was.
Bob Roller

Bob do you remember what year you made the locks like mine/ just curious,,,,,,,,,,,

[Bob Roller]

Bob i showed you the lock about a year ago in a pm, this is what you said.

That is a close copy of a Henry Nock and I made over 100
of them for a shop in Germany. It is very similar to the current L&R small Manton. Not many of these are
in the USA because at the time I was making them on an almost daily basis it was priced for Germany.

One of the few that didn't cross the Rhine or in this case,the Nette.I haven't made one for a long time
and gave the moulds to Les Barber at the Mould and Gun Shop in Ohio and I don't know if they ever
used them or not.Thank you for the return reply as to which lock it was.
Bob Roller

Bob do you remember what year you made the locks like mine/ just curious,,,,,,,,,,,

The production of these locks were spread out and I think they began in 1979.I altered my logo from "Roller" and year made
to "Roller"USA when I started sending these locks to Germany for pistols which were Boutet styles from the shop of Helmut Mohr
in Mayen Hausen.I got the moulds from TOW in 1978 and traded 4 completed locks for them.Almost all of these locks went to Germany because few Americans were willing to pay for the time and effort to make a quality lock for any muzzle loader.
I also made a fancy Schuetzen lock and triggers for a series of target rifles from Mohr's shop.Two years ago I finished the last 2 flintlocks to come from my shop and used the L&R Durs Egg external parts with a custom mechanism and one had a double throated cock which would be an ideal lock for a hunting rifle IMHO.At this point I am making a few triggers each month and no
schedule of specific number.
  I almost forgot,I made my last 2 Hawken caplocks in March of 2019 and one of them had the German schuetzen mechanism and
the other used J&S cast plate and hammer and the common mechanism I developed years ago.Now at 85 there is no stress and I don't feel the need to revive lock making.
Bob Roller

[wolf]

well Bob by you not making locks anymore it is a loss to us but good for you. i don't blame you bit, take it easy. and thank you for the info and your contribution to our sport and way of life ,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[RedRiverII]

This is a great thread for a newcomer.  It's nice to hear a bit of excellence in action. I love this sentence Bob,  "When you take my lock or trigger out of the box it will tell one and all what I think of the buyer and myself."    To me it shows much strength of conviction.  Such strength allows one to live a healthy life.  Too bad I am late to the party,  but I will look to find one of your locks to include in my build.  Would you recommend a lock made today that is as finely crafted as yours?  At 68 I figure I could use one of your locks as a totem for living strong and well.  Having finely crafted tools is a sign of what I think of myself.  When moving to Fla. after retiring I left and/or gave away most of the tools I had collected during my lifetime.  The weight alone was not worth the cost of shipping.  Well, it was to me but the Mrs begged to differ.  However leaving them behind was a heart breaker.  Forgive me OP I get carried away at times.

OP have your questions been answered?  I do not remember a number being suggested,  is that what you need? 

[Bob Roller]

This is a great thread for a newcomer.  It's nice to hear a bit of excellence in action. I love this sentence Bob,  "When you take my lock or trigger out of the box it will tell one and all what I think of the buyer and myself."    To me it shows much strength of conviction.  Such strength allows one to live a healthy life.  Too bad I am late to the party,  but I will look to find one of your locks to include in my build.  Would you recommend a lock made today that is as finely crafted as yours?  At 68 I figure I could use one of your locks as a totem for living strong and well.  Having finely crafted tools is a sign of what I think of myself.  When moving to Fla. after retiring I left and/or gave away most of the tools I had collected during my lifetime.  The weight alone was not worth the cost of shipping.  Well, it was to me but the Mrs begged to differ.  However leaving them behind was a heart breaker.  Forgive me OP I get carried away at times.

OP have your questions been answered?  I do not remember a number being suggested,  is that what you need?

REDRIVER
A nicely crafted flintlock now is the Kibler Late Ketland with the linked mainspring.Next is the Chambers Late Ketland.
I know of NO quality caplocks being made now.MOST American caplock rifles had mediocre locks and the only better
quality target rifles of the New York/New England had decent locks.California made match rifles can be included as well.
You might post in the "Wanted" section of this forum for one of my locks.sevearal people have collected them over the
years but I can't divulge their names or locations,
Thank you for the comments on my ideas and attitudes about customers that buy/bought my work that now consists
only of triggers.I have nothing more to offer than my respect for these people.
Bob Roller

[jgraham1]

Email sent on the Roller lock.

Jerry

[TWM]

Gerry,  I seem to be having a problem with the emails through this forum or, it could be me as I wish I was more technically advanced.  That being said, I believe  you sent me an email regarding my Roller lock. I believe I saw it and then it vanished from my inbox.   If that is the case, could you send it again but directly to my email address as follows: twmyatt@gmail.com.  Sorry for any confusion.

Tom