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Author Topic: Fordney lock?  (Read 5748 times)

Offline scotchindian

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Fordney lock?
« on: March 30, 2016, 03:42:05 AM »
Check ebay item id182070634551(I don't know how to link the auction). Seller states this is an original 18th century lock, with M.fordney engraved on it. Is this a legitimate original Melchoir Fordney lock?
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Offline PPatch

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Re: Fordney lock?
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2016, 05:05:15 AM »
"The only flaw is that someone apparently has glorified it with the name "M. FORDNEY."  Since it was the practice of early Pennsylvania makers to mark the barrel and not the lock, it is unlikely that this marking is original."

The seller seems to believe the name is an addition. Personally I have no clue. It is a very nice lock however.

dave
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Offline Bill Ladd

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Re: Fordney lock?
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2016, 02:49:18 PM »
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oakridge

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Re: Fordney lock?
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2016, 08:48:32 PM »
IMO, it's obvious. The Fordney name on the lock is a fairly recent addition.
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Offline bama

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Re: Fordney lock?
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2016, 02:44:05 AM »
To bad, you can still see a little of the original stamping or engraving under the new engraving.
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Offline rich pierce

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Re: Fordney lock?
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2016, 03:44:25 AM »
Really nice lock, probably de-valued by the addition of the signature.
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Offline Buck

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Re: Fordney lock?
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2016, 04:03:56 AM »
PPATCH,
Dickert signed some of his locks and he was an early maker, where Fordney was not an early maker and signed some of his locks also.
Buck
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Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Fordney lock?
« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2016, 07:20:35 PM »
But this one has been signed over an old signature.  Fake.
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Offline Eric Kettenburg

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Re: Fordney lock?
« Reply #8 on: March 31, 2016, 07:50:33 PM »
Too bad, looks like a nice little French lock probably 1770s-1780s or so, off a double gun (hence the step in the bolster).  The signature is obviously an add-on and it definitely looks a little crude too.  Someone REALLY good with a fine little stick welder, some very careful clean up and subsequent age 'matching' could probably make it go away, would be worth the work if the matching left side lock were also present.
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Offline Buck

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Re: Fordney lock?
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2016, 01:33:20 AM »
D. Taylor Sapergia,
I wasn't implying it was authentic, only that "early practice of PA builders was to sign their barrels, not their locks" is incorrect. It's an obvious forgery, I didn't deem it necessary to comment on that.
Buck
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Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Fordney lock?
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2016, 09:53:25 PM »
Winning bid:

US $448.00


 [ 16 bids
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Offline bp

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Re: Fordney lock?
« Reply #11 on: April 07, 2016, 06:38:09 PM »
Might the cock be a replacement?
It does not appear to have engraving to match the plate.
Maybe they were made that way?
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