Help with lock maker

[GrampaJack]

This lock came off an Ohio rifle made by Edwin A. Oppelt. He worked in New Hagerstown circa 1850. I thought it was just a common commercial lock until I pulled it for some cleaning.  The lock makers stamp reads "YRON SON & Co. I can't make out any other letters ahead of what is there.  At first I thought it was Tryon but that would mean the Y and R are reversed so that didn't work. I have done several searches trying to come up with a name but so far have failed.  The lock only has one unusual feature that being a small screw through the tumbler for adjusting the sear.  Any thoughts? Not a big deal but it bugs me. Thanks, Jack

[mountainman70]

Jack,I have one near identical,but the plate forward of hammer is pitted deeply,and no name can be found.Tumbler and other internals probably not original.Plate does have the same game birds,and double line bordering.It is going into a mtn style halfstock pistol one of these days.How ya been?Ever get that southern rifle finished up?Best regards,Dave

[GrampaJack]

Dave, not much getting done in the shop right now.  I have a few projects to get ready for Spring if it ever arrives in N. E. Ohio. I guess the reason this lock is strange is the letters are very deep and clear so there should be some kind of tracks for what ever was in front of them. I can't believe the guys name was Larry Yron. Thanks, Jack

[Majorjoel]

Jack, about the only name that makes any sense to me would be "BYRON" which is a good ole English name to go with a good ole English lock!

[JTR]

It's probably TYRON

John

[GrampaJack]

I saw Byron in one of my searches but Tyron is a totally new one on me. The only Tyron rifle I saw was a repro and mention of a Tyron lock plate on a Civil War musket on the Muzzleloading forum.  I can't get my password to work so I couldn't look at the comments.  This helps. Now at least I can look closer for either a B or a T. Tomorrow I'll get the magnifier out and look a little closer. Thanks, Jack

[Dphariss]

Surely a Tryon lock.
Tryon was a major name in the American gun trade. They sold a wide array of parts and were gun makers as well making rifles and guns many of them for the western fur trade.

Dan

[oakridge]

On every Tryon I've seen, though, they could spell their name correctly. I think it's something else.

[Majorjoel]

Me too Oakridge! The spelling is off for TRYON. Then you have the SON after the name. Never knew of a TRYON & SON.  But, I will never ever say never when it comes to old muzzle loader stuff.

[GrampaJack]

Well, looked at it with the magnifier and bright light and I can see what happened. The stamp was hit crooked with the letters on the right very deep and then tailing off on the left. You can see from the picture that the Y is much more shallow than the letters to the right. There is not even a trace left of the first letter that I can see. One thing that might help would be if either Byron or Tyron used "Son" in their name? Going to have to go back and do some more searching. Do any of you know of first names for them? Makes searching more effective I think.  Or, it can just remain a puzzle.  Thanks for the help.  Jack

[mountainman70]

Hey Jack,just put that lock on an ol' southern mtn rifle,sorry it aint flint,it would give the gun an aire of mysterie!!!Dave

[Steve Collward]

Jack:
  I've checked several of my books covering both English and American makers but have found no listings for Tyron or Byron.
(I think "Tryon" was in Philadelphia).

[JTR]

I've seen that name on a few lock plates, and always assumed that Tyron was a knock off for Tryon, just as Derringer and Deringer.

There were plenty of knock offs back then, just as now.

John