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Author Topic: American flintlock?  (Read 2439 times)

Offline rich pierce

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American flintlock?
« on: June 09, 2022, 04:39:44 PM »
Another restoration project. The previous owner added a new frizzen spring and frizzen. Possible US surcharge. Big old lock.



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Andover, Vermont

Offline Robert Wolfe

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #1 on: June 09, 2022, 08:49:56 PM »
You've got some cool projects in the works. Can't wait to see them come to completion!
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Offline Otto

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #2 on: June 09, 2022, 10:36:26 PM »
I'm curious about the stamp. Not sure what I'm seeing there, but it looks like "US" with the S backwards, IF it is indeed a stamp, how does one stamp a letter backwards? An "S "that is.
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Offline rich pierce

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #3 on: June 09, 2022, 10:43:40 PM »
Quote from: Otto on June 09, 2022, 10:36:26 PM
I'm curious about the stamp. Not sure what I'm seeing there, but it looks like "US" with the S backwards, IF it is indeed a stamp, how does one stamp a letter backwards? An "S "that is.
Make a bad stamp. Can’t think of another way.
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Andover, Vermont

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2022, 10:57:33 PM »
Probably U2. Great band...
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Offline hanshi

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2022, 12:15:19 AM »
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Offline RAT

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2022, 02:00:37 AM »
I'm more of a Black Sabbath man myself...

As for the lock... it looks like a rear screw hole for a third lock bolt. From a NW trade gun perhaps?
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Offline rich pierce

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2022, 02:51:07 AM »
Quote from: RAT on June 10, 2022, 02:00:37 AM
I'm more of a Black Sabbath man myself...

As for the lock... it looks like a rear screw hole for a third lock bolt. From a NW trade gun perhaps?

I’d expect a signature if it was made in England for a military gun or trade gun in my limited experience. Could be a knock-off; common in the period as it is now. The style is very similar to a 3rd model Brown Bess, but that lock design wasn’t invented from whole cloth for that model.
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Andover, Vermont

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2022, 04:26:43 PM »
let's look at the inside
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Offline rich pierce

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2022, 05:03:54 PM »
Quote from: Mike Brooks on June 10, 2022, 04:26:43 PM
let's look at the inside
Not much to see except the clock is 90 degrees off on the tumbler and it had a bridle.

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Andover, Vermont

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2022, 06:30:41 PM »
It's all very obvious now.
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Offline RAT

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #11 on: June 11, 2022, 02:31:52 AM »
NW trade guns were made by American makers too. In "The Encyclopedia of Trade Goods" Vol 1 "Firearms of the Fur Trade" Hanson shows photos of several NW guns by American makers with only a date on the tail of the lock (no maker name). Most had both the name and date. My guess? A lock from a NW trade gun from around 1820 (or somewhat before)... produced for, and distributed by, the US government as treaty payment. Why 1820? It has both a frizzen bridal and internal bridal... but a third (rear) lock bolt. By 1830 the third lock bolt was being replaced by a wood screw to fasten the rear of the side plate.
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Bob

Offline backsplash75

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #12 on: June 12, 2022, 11:13:22 PM »
My somewhat educated guess is a late 18thc Bess lock (partial "Tower" marking appears to be stamped vs engraved) that had a 3rd screw hole added and likely spurious US marking to "upmarket" it.

the cock itself would be good for restoration work.
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Offline rich pierce

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #13 on: June 12, 2022, 11:58:29 PM »
Quote from: backsplash75 on June 12, 2022, 11:13:22 PM
My somewhat educated guess is a late 18thc Bess lock (partial "Tower" marking appears to be stamped vs engraved) that had a 3rd screw hole added and likely spurious US marking to "upmarket" it.

the cock itself would be good for restoration work.
Yes, that seems to be the consensus. Thanks!
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Andover, Vermont

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #14 on: June 13, 2022, 01:43:44 AM »
wait  a minute,  did I consensus that? ???
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Offline rich pierce

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #15 on: June 13, 2022, 01:54:50 PM »
Quote from: Mike Brooks on June 13, 2022, 01:43:44 AM
wait  a minute,  did I consensus that? ???
I been all over the internets Mike!
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Andover, Vermont

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: American flintlock?
« Reply #16 on: June 13, 2022, 03:06:27 PM »
Dad gumit. I hate it when I'm the last one to know.
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Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?
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