A friend recently gave me this old Bess lock, marked with "TOWER" and a crown. He said it was found at an old burned-out cabin site in SW Virginia decades ago by a fellow named Calvin Morgan. It's passed hands a few times, but only as a gift. I guess it's my turn to look after it for a while. The glob on the frizzen seems to be from the melted side plate, which brazed itself in place, presumably during the fire. There is a bit of the side plate brazed to the remaining lock nail, as well. From the crusty scale I suspect it was covered in dirt for a while. Some of the original case hardening shows as a sort of thick, smooth scale in places. It still has a bit of a flint in the jaws, as well, which looks to me to be a piece of local chert.
When I first saw it I thought perhaps the brass on the frizzen was from a half sole melted off, but on closer examination I think it's the side plate. It's way too much brass to be from a half sole.
Anyway, I'm honored to be the recipient, and to have a turn as curator. Thought you guys might enjoy seeing it.
