Can any of you ID this lock?

[Dennis Glazener]

I hope one of you might be able to ID this lock. It looks like the maker is either SHOULTS or possibly S  Shoults then under the name is LOCK and under that is either a 0 or an o not sure which. The lock seems really well made, sparks great and has a pretty heavy main spring.
Dennis

[Dennis Glazener]

Well typical for me, ask a question then google when it should be the other way aroung. I just found this on a similiar lock on ebay:

We are offering a scarce Chet Shoults lock from the late 1950’s finished in presentation gold electroplate. The lock itself is a true work of art. It has excellent fit and finish, with the classic Shoults design, and in the style of Jacob Dickert of Lancaster County, PA. It is a strong striker with limber springs. Muzzleloading purists will appreciate the classic Shoults design with near Swiss pocket watch attention to detail. A perfect finishing touch to a special Kentucky rifle build. 

Have to assume this is also one of his locks. Anyone familiar with him?
Did he build rifles as well as locks?
Dennis

[Bob Roller]

It IS a Shoults lock.I knew Chet Shoults and when ill health forced him to stop making it,I started making it and made a bunch of them. Every piece of this lock was an investment casting with the exception of the screws.
All of these parts are available from Jerry Devaudreuil in Wooster Ohio 1-330-234-4500.He owns the moulds for it along with others. I made it with the sliding mainspring as shown for about 8 years and made a 3 screw bridle as well. In 1970 I revamped it to a linked mainspring. I always referred to it as the lock that was good for nothing but used for a lot of things including pistols.

Bob Roller

[PPatch]

I always referred to it as the lock that was good for nothing but used for a lot of things including pistols.

Bob Roller

I love how Bob always gives a straight from the shoulder opinion!

 

dave

[KLMoors]

Mr. Roller is a walking encyclopedia!

[WadePatton]

Mr. Roller is a walking encyclopedia!

x [Like]

Mr. Roller made his version of that lock for me.  It's going on my 40. 

Now i know what to call it! 

[Bob Roller]

Mr. Roller is a walking encyclopedia!

What a fine compliment and thank you! The only other thing I can say is that I have had the good fortune to be in the right places at the right times and was encouraged by my mother who valued knowledge and gave me a love of reading and learning. I despise novels and can dream up my own BS so don't need it in a book but enjoy history immensely. I have read the work of Alexander Solzynitsin,all that was available in English and the same for William Shirer who went to Europe as a reporter in 1924 and watched the rise of Adolf Hitler.
Automobiles and "Between the World Wars"aircraft are other strong interests and I was in an EAA affiliated club for about 9 years.We flew mostly old timers. I've also furnished historical info,such as I have to the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club,all of it for the Duesenberg that I knew about which were almost lost to time but now archived and documented.
My interest in black powder rifles goes back to 1951 when I bought for $20 a fine Enfield 58 caliber carbine,a genuine carbine and not a sawed off rifle.Met E.M.Farris and Bill Large on the same day in April of 1953 and have maintained an interest ever since.They both,especially Bill Large recognized I had some mechanical ability and their encouragement along with that of rifle maker Glen Napier got me interested in bench crafted things like locks and triggers.
As far as the "Encyclopedia" goes,I am possibly a short paragraph but nothing more.

Bob Roller

[davebozell]

I, for one, appreciate your short, direct writing style.  I also know when I read your posts that I am going to learn something. Now we just have to figure out how to get them all in one place.  That would make quite a history lesson!

[Pete G.]

I love the line about being good for nothing, but used for a lot of things, but now my curiosity is piqued. What makes it such? It appears to be fairly well made and finished.

[moleeyes36]

I love the line about being good for nothing, but used for a lot of things, but now my curiosity is piqued. What makes it such? It appears to be fairly well made and finished.

Exactly my reaction.  Bob, could you please fill us in about what you meant by that?  Thanks.

Mole Eyes

[Dennis Glazener]

The lock sparks great and seems to really be well made. Maybe I lucked out and have one of the ones Bob made
Dennis

[Bob Roller]

The lock sparks great and seems to really be well made. Maybe I lucked out and have one of the ones Bob made
Dennis

That is NOT my work or mechanism. I made that style for about 8 years with the "slip&slide"mainspring but used a 3 screw bridle and the fly was held by the bridle,not the lock plate. Chet Shouts did know how to harden a frizzen and those locks filled a gap for a long time.

Bob Roller

[Bob Roller]

I love the line about being good for nothing, but used for a lot of things, but now my curiosity is piqued. What makes it such? It appears to be fairly well made and finished.

Exactly my reaction.  Bob, could you please fill us in about what you meant by that?  Thanks.

Mole Eyes

Back in the late 1950's and early 60's and maybe beyond,there were few flintlocks being made by anyone.
I made a few cobbled up types using malleable iron parts that fired like a torch but they didn't come anywhere near the quality I was seeking. The Shoults lock as shown was widely used on rifles,pistols and some shotguns.
Keep in mind that during that time frame none of us gave hoot about "Historically"correct anything and a good,reliable lock was a treasure. It does appear that good for nothing and used for many things does and did fit that situation. I think Wade Patton got the last of them from my shop and I have no intention of reviving it or the Ketland variant with the heavy frizzen and double throated cock
W.G.Sutter in Ruffsdale,Pa made up a few flintlocks working with Ted Cole from Wilkinsburg,Pa and showed them at Friendship about 1959.They weren't bad and he even made Bedford County styles as well. I have mentione him in earlier posts as making tumblers from torsion bars salvaged from Chryslers and 1955 and 1956 Packards that used that unique suspension system.
Hope this helps.

Bob Roller

[JCKelly]

I have one of Bob's locks on Shoults parts. Bought it from Red Farris about 1966. Used it on a semi-trade gun, rifled. Eventually sold the gun, kept the lock. It actually works. 

[Bob Roller]

I have one of Bob's locks on Shoults parts. Bought it from Red Farris about 1966. Used it on a semi-trade gun, rifled. Eventually sold the gun, kept the lock. It actually works. 

Jim,
Can you post a picture of this nearly 50 year old lock? I did a tune up on one I made in 1968 a couple of years ago that was beat up but sorta/kinda working. The main problem seemed to be the frizzen spring was beat down and lost more than half of its tension.
If you can send us all a picture of the lock I would certainly like to see it.

Bob Roller