Leman Half-Stock Flint Lock

[greymount]

I am planning on building a flintlock Leman half-stock in 45 caliber with a 7/8 barrel.  Which is the best and most correct lock to use.  Chambers late Ketland, L&R Late English or the RE Davis Late Ketland? Also what ramrod hole should be used on a stock with a 45-7/8th barrel.  A 3/8 or 7/16th?

[rich pierce]

There aren't as many choices for late locks as early locks. I'd prefer the Chambers, style-wise. I'm just not that familiar with seeing those late waterproof English locks on late flint American rifles. There's probably not much market for a 1830s to 1840s medium quality export lock in a rifle size but one would be handy.

[Mike Brooks]

I am planning on building a flintlock Leman half-stock in 45 caliber with a 7/8 barrel.  Which is the best and most correct lock to use.  Chambers late Ketland, L&R Late English or the RE Davis Late Ketland? Also what ramrod hole should be used on a stock with a 45-7/8th barrel.  A 3/8 or 7/16th?

7/16" rod won't fit down a .45 hole will it? If I were going to build a Leman 1/2 stock I'd make it percussion. Probably go with a 36" to 38" barrel too.

[Dennis Glazener]

Chambers late Ketland, 3/8 is what I use 7/16 is .4375" but why use such a large RR when a 3/8 is more than adequate plus it makes the rifle look bulky. I personally would probably use a 3/8 and taper it down to 5/16".
Dennis

[okieboy]

 Probably the most appropriate style lockplate would be a round back plate, that is the L&R late English, which is available with a double throat cock, which would also be a plus. You could round the back of the others.
 As Mr. Brooks said, if a half stock I'd do percussion (for which copies of Leman locks, both round and square end, are available), or conversely I'd build a flintlock full stock with a 39-43" barrel. Just my personal opinion.

[stuart cee dub]

 I would use a late Ketland lock from Chambers and round off the tail .
These are good locks and easy on flints .For a half stock 35'' 7/8'' across the flats ,.45 cal with a steel underib make a very nice handling rifle.

Lemans are trim rifles.Big ramrods make fat rifles spoiling the lines in my opinion weighting the fore end visually.

Minimal web would be needed if you are going to get it to work .
On a recent build I should have deepened the barrel channel after the ramrod hole had been drilled as a work around after I got it back from having the barrel channel milled and the ramrod drilled .My squirrel rifle looks slightly pregnant to me after it was all said and done . A tapered ramrod as Dennis suggests sounds like a good solution.