Chambers Banana German Lock???

[t.caster]

Jim, I hear rumors of a round faced German banana lock that would be good for a Jaeger. Is there any timeline for production yet? I have a couple Jaeger projects coming up, and I am interested!

[rich pierce]

Good to hear you've got plans and that such a lock is under consideration.  Would like to know more about both topics!

I think the Chambers early Germanic could be carefully made into a round faced lock.  I've seen it done with the Davis jaeger lock.  Although the lockplate is not as thick on the Chambers, I'm going to give it a try sometime as I have an extra one.  The transition to the lockplate  edge molding will be the tricky part.

[Jim Kibler]

I sure hate the term banana lock!  I've seen the lock in question and it's a 17th or very early 18th century German lock roughly based on the French Louis XIV style.  It is of course round faced and has moderate drop to the tail if I remember correctly.  Keep in mind this would only be appropriate for a gun of this period.  The fully developed Jaeger style often envisioned came along a little later.  

[James Rogers]

Look at Muzzle Blasts December 2009 issue, page 60

[t.caster]

Jim? Barbie?

Meanwhile, I'll see if I can find that mag....OK found it! Wow!
Is Jim's lock going to be smooth or with cast-on relief art?

I am laying out an unsigned Brandenburg School Jaeger shown by Shumway in MB April 1993. It has a heavily chamfered flat plate. It is for a hunting rifle and will not be a strict reproduction. It will be much more plain, so a fancy lock is not neccesary. I am leaning toward the Chambers C.S. lock (over the Davis Jaeger) with some reshaping at the tail. Using a wild  piece of English Walnut I got from Ron Scott last year.

[Jim Chambers]

The lock is in progress, but due to far too many projects in the shop that require immediate attention I have not had much time to work on the new lock.  And, with the loss of our local heat treating company (those jobs gone to China) I will have to do most of the lock heat treating myself in house.  That is certainly going to further limit the time to work on the new lock.  At this time I have not abandoned the project, but I cannot give a time frame for having it in production.  All I can do is work on it as time permits.

[t.caster]

Fair enough, Jim! I certainly understand about time constraints!

Merry Christmas to all!

[Acer Saccharum]

With ski season upon him, Mr Chambers may be able to squeeze in any lock time until spring. 

[Jim Chambers]

Acer,
You're right about that.  All work and no play makes lock makers grumpy old sob's.  I've had only one day so far on the boards, but hope to get in another one or two before the end of the year.

[t.caster]

SnowBoard....downhill...x-country???
I am anxtious to try X-c with my new knee to see how it works, it feels strong, and we have good conditions right now!

[billd]

Tom,   maybe with this global warming you'll see the lock sooner than you think.

Bill

[t.caster]

Global what? Where do you live? This is one of the coldest Dec. in many a moon! We're getting off topic.
Hey, I don't want to rush the Lock Master!

[Dan'l 1946]

Jim--do you have any photographs or drawings of the new lock? If so, I'd really like to see  them and I'll wager others would too.
                                                                     Dan

[Michael]

Jim,

Would you consider selling the lock as a gunmakers kit' and we do all the fitting and heat treating?

Michael

[Blackpowder Barbie]

Jim--do you have any photographs or drawings of the new lock? If so, I'd really like to see  them and I'll wager others would too.
                                                                     Dan

I'll try and post a photo or two tomorrow.
Barbie

[Acer Saccharum]

A photo of Pop on skis...or of the new lock?

[Blackpowder Barbie]

This is the copy of the original that we have.  A few things may change, but it will be very close to this.

[omark]

im not very educated on locks, but i sure like that one. any chance of a lefty in the future??   mark

[Jim Kibler]

Thanks for the photos.  A really cool lock.  Notice the frizzen bridle.  A good example of why the absence or presence of a bridle shouldn't in general be used as a lock dating feature.  This is likely a late 17th century lock.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Thanks Barbie.  It's a very pretty lock.  The mechanical geometry looks superlative.  Polishing a plate with all that cast in relief chiseling will be time consuming, m'thinks.

[James Rogers]

Thanks Barbie.  It's a very pretty lock.  The mechanical geometry looks superlative.  Polishing a plate with all that cast in relief chiseling will be time consuming, m'thinks.

Or file it all off. 

[bama]

File it off I think JC just fainted That is a nice looking lock. I found the nut to hold the cock on quite interesting. How do you tighten it, with a wrench of some kind?

[marcusb]

Now that is a LOCK!

I want one

[bob in the woods]

Here is an idea that may help to get this project moving along. How about pre-orders..kind of like what e. Kettenburg proposed way back re some 46 in barrels. If 100 orders are placed [ pre-paid] that would help i would suspect. Perhaps we could expect delivery in the Spring or Summer?  Is this a possibility?? If so, count me in.

[Dan'l 1946]

Barbie- Thanks for the photographs. I definitely want one of these locks as soon as they are available!!   Dan