identify lockmaker

[Ric27]

Does anyone recognize this stamp. RH    It is on a lock among load of part I bought. It is a standard Siler Lock and appearers to be well assembled.      the stamp is in Capital Letters RH right under the pan on the inside of the lock plate. then a series of four numbers. So it reads RH5617 Hand stamped.
Thanks Ric

 

[Jim Chambers]

That is a Siler lock assembled by Dick Herring from Michigan.  When I bought the Siler company Dick had just finished his 7000th Siler lock.  He assembled another thousand or so before he finally retired.  Your lock would probably have been made in the 1980's.

[Ric27]

Thanks Jim, Was he one of he most prolific Siler builders. 7000 sounds like a lot. When did Bud first come out with that lock?

[Jim Chambers]

Rick,
Yes, Dick made quite a number of Siler locks, but so did a lot of other guys.  When Bud Siler had the business he sold the locks only in kit form.  There were a number of guys around the country like Dick Herring, Walter Cain, Herman Stone, R. E. Davis Co., and Jack Garner who bought the kits, assembled them and then sold them to individuals and businesses. My first order after buying the business was from Jerry Gutches who owned R.E. Davis Co. at the time.  He order 100 large Siler flintlock kits.  Over the years that I've had the Siler business we've gone from selling almost 100% kits to selling probably 90% assembled locks.  Most of those old guys mentioned above have passed away, unfortunately.  Bud started selling the locks in the early 1960's.

[Ric27]

Jim,
that is fascinating. I knew that there were quite a few people making Siler locks. I was made aware of the fact right off when David Wright arranged my first purchase of parts to build a rifle that there was a difference as to who assembled the locks. He explained the the lock he got for me was made by a guy that was good at it. Soon there after I bought two locks from Steve Davis that he pronounced as "made right.". David and Steve both mentioned the nave of the makers but I didn't wright them down in my notes at the time.  Even at that point in my experience I could tell the difference especially in the ones that I got from Steve. I remember holding them back for special orders and charged a premium. They were obviously superior to the average Siler whitch I always considered that best locks out there.  Are there some names of the old makers that stand out to you and how did they marked their locks. 

[Jim Chambers]

Dick Herring (marked "RH" and a number), Herman Stone (marked L&S) both did a credible job assembling Siler locks.  But, the best ones came from Walter Cain (often marked "Cain").  Walter was a retired machinist and really built locks with close tolerances.  Walter also made wonderful set triggers, especially single set ones.  I still have several sets of his triggers I plan to use.  Yes, I still make guns.  I've been working on one all morning and will post some photos when it's finished....another fairly fancy Lancaster rifle.

[Ric27]

It comes to me as you mention the name Cain, that was the name stamped on the locks I bought impromptu from Steve Davis in the middle of the road between booths on traders row at Friendship around 1995. He had them in his pocket and wanted $100 for both. I knew it was a good deal then and would pay 4 times that to have them today. I have never had anything like them sense. 

[Ric27]

Jim, I am glad to hear you are build a gun. There are way too few Jim Chambers rifles.

Ric