Brown Bess Lock

[Jim Cook]

Does anyone have a picture that they can post that shows the Brown Bess sear spring installed?
Thank you

[Dave B]

Jim,
if you have a track of the wolf catalog 16 you will see a Chambers early Ketland Lock internal view on page 155 it is the same as that on the Brown Bess.

[J.D.]

In my experience, the sear spring on Pedersoli bess locks is a little too short. The end of the sear spring should just clear the bolster on the sear.

I made a new sear spring for my bess, 'cause I wasn't satisfied with the old one. IMHO, making a new sear spring is almost child's play compared to making mainsprings, so IMHO, anyone can make a replacement with just a little work.

God bless

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I have two pics that I hope will help. 
The first is of a parts set that I bought from TRS for my Long land Pattern Bess.  It shows the sear spring screw behind the thinned tumbler finial, as is the case in Chambers' English round faced locks.
The second is of a reproduction lock...possibly Italian.  The tumbler has been removed.  Notice the enormous pre-load they put in the too thin mainspring, to get the power needed to swing the large cock.

[Jim Cook]

Taylor,
Thank you very much. As they say, a picture is worth a ......... and two are worth even more.

I'm trying to place the sear spring in my Track Willits 1746 Brown Bess lock. I didn't even consider thinning the tumbler finial. That would have allowed me to place the screw in a better position. That thinning would not go beyond the full cock ledge on the tumbler. Before I attack the tumbler I'm going to wait until I can see detailed tumbler pictures.

I'm slowly learning how this lock goes together, very sloooowly. I'm constantly amazed at what the original gunsmiths did. True craftsmen.

I do wish there were detailed photos of this lock.

I live about a 15 minute drive from the Springfield Massachusetts Armory Museum. Nice people there. Unfortunately, they didn't have a Brown Bess lock I could take apart and study.

[Lucky R A]

JIm,
          Below are two views of an original 1st model 'Jordan" lock dated 1746.   This should give you an idea of what the real deal looks like. 

Ron.

[Jim Cook]

Thank you Ron,
The tumbler is relieved so that it passes over the sear screw head.
It's a lot clearer.