Jerry LMAO . You sneaky old dog LOL
At this point I don’t see a reason to start over . You just need to adjust for Fire .
Sometimes what Cody has mention about putting a screw into the standing breech works very well .
I have had to do that a couple times with replacing locks for cap locks.
In fact I have seen it done on many SXS as well IE instead of 1 lock bolt , there are 2 that screw into the standing breech . One for each lock
But here is what I see ,.
Concerning the photo with your lock plate in the mortise
It appears that your barrel isn’t setting to the proper depth at the breech end .
Now again maybe im just seeing distortion in the photo or maybe the case is that you have the edge of the stock diving down to the lock .. But judging from your photo and assuming the edge of you stock is true . Then the barrel and tang need to drop down considerably ..
If this is indeed true , then your lock is not to low .
Now im also assuming that the line im seeing on the barrel coming down to the pan , is a pencil line , showing the face of your breech..
If so , again this tells me that the barrel needs to come down and in fact can come down judging by the amount of wood left between the top edge of the lock and the top of the standing breech .
As to patching and re inletting the lock .
As another poster stated . Your never going to be happy with a patch .
I have an old SXS stock out in my shop that I sometimes use for patterns .
On this original , the lock mortises are separate pieces . So in actuality the stock is a 3 piece stock .
It appears that at some time , a person planed off the original mortises glued on a new piece of wood for , on both sides , so as to inlet new locks . The joints are very tight and the glue lines were hidden in the relief of the mortise itself .
I have had this old stock for some 25 years . As such the above is now noticeable . But I assure you that when I got the stock , the above was not noticeable, even on close inspection . The patches were that perfect,.
Myself I would suggest to step back . don’t go trying to change things until you have a good idea of what you need to do . All to often people jump head long into a repair . Thinking they have the answer when in fact they don’t .
Myself at this point I think you would be much better off , bringing the barrel to the lock vs. trying to take the lock to the barrel . Once you have the flash hole aligned proper . Then work out your screw placement .
As to screw placement . What I would do is make a stepped lock bolt that would replace the top forward screw on the Bridle . You will thus clear your standing breech and tang .
Have a trough bolt and have all the lock workings , proper . IE no changes to the lock , no adding plates …………………
And jerry , you better be at the next shoot , I have to redeem myself .
Though I would say that beating me with your hawk an knife score shouldn’t count as beating me on the trail . I still out shot you LMAO
