A Lock from a British Shotgun

[ddoyle]

Having a slinky like, long, neck and a sensitive inner ear the architecture makes complete and absolute sense to me.  That gun fit someone who knew what was best for them and worst for the birds.

Is that method of creating the bolster flat a common method i.e removing material from around the barrel to raise the flat as opposed to simply creating a flat by flling it into the round? ( I am assuming the bolster flat is solid and not brazed on?)

Thanks for sharing, sure is a treat.

[Hudnut]

I believe the right hand flat and the Nock's form on top were created when the barrel was forged; they are proud of the barrel, the barrel wasn't reduced to form them.

[Mike Brooks]

That barrel shape is pretty common for that particular time period. Part of the charm of this particular era.

[ddoyle]

I sure like the way the flats are slightly undercut to make sure water travels along them away from the pan/vent and not over.

Were bolster flats on a round barrel ever soldered on and dressed down? or is it just to dangerous to trust it wont become a projectile or a fouling trap? 

[Mike Brooks]

I sure like the way the flats are slightly undercut to make sure water travels along them away from the pan/vent and not over.

Were bolster flats on a round barrel ever soldered on and dressed down? or is it just to dangerous to trust it wont become a projectile or a fouling trap?

I believe they are just filed in.

[Bob Roller]

Ah...the art of the lock filer!!!  Wonderful lock.

Elegant,simple,rigid assembly. Many years ago,Lynton McKenzie told me of seeing very fine
wooden masters that were made to produce fine sand castings for the externals on the fine
locks and the  filing was done on the mechanism.There used to be a man in Northern Ohio
that did nice cast iron hammers and frizzens and I recall using them.I think his name was
Ken Roethlesberger.

Bob Roller

[JCKelly]

Bob Roller you have educated me. I thought such locks were all filed from wrought iron forgings.

The one and only ductile ferrous metal that could be sand cast at that time was malleable iron. Steel was not yet being cast. I'd not thought that malleable would tolerate the pounding taken by the cock. Appears I was wrong.

Dixie used to supply a number of parts in malleable iron, lock parts and set triggers.

The line on the frizzen would be where the steel face was brazed onto the malleable iron frizzen.

[ddoyle]

Does the cock rest against the pan or does it come to rest on a stop on the bridle?

[Hudnut]

The lower jaw of the cock has a "chin" that stops against the fence.  There is no shoulder on the inside of the cock that contacts the lockplate.  I would have to remove the lock to check the tumbler/bridle relationship, although I would think that the tumbler impacting the bridle would not be a good thing. 

[Pukka Bundook]

Yes, as Hudnut says, the throat of the cock should fall on the fence.   

Beautiful gun.

[Feltwad]

Yes, as Hudnut says, the throat of the cock should fall on the fence.   

Beautiful gun.

Enclosed are a standard pair of English  flint locks with rain proof pans  and showing the shoulder  stop which connects on the top of the lock plate.
Feltwad

[Feltwad]

English Flint Locks






Feltwad

[Bob Roller]

Bob Roller you have educated me. I thought such locks were all filed from wrought iron forgings.

The one and only ductile ferrous metal that could be sand cast at that time was malleable iron. Steel was not yet being cast. I'd not thought that malleable would tolerate the pounding taken by the cock. Appears I was wrong.

Dixie used to supply a number of parts in malleable iron, lock parts and set triggers.

The line on the frizzen would be where the steel face was brazed onto the malleable iron frizzen.

Jim,
The castings that Roethlesberger furnished were all malleable iron.I would like to know where
his moulds went.
The number of fine English locks that survive are proof that there was a better way than hammering
and filing.

Bob Roller

[Pukka Bundook]

Yes, as Hudnut says, the throat of the cock should fall on the fence.   

Beautiful gun.

Enclosed are a standard pair of English  flint locks with rain proof pans  and showing the shoulder  stop which connects on the top of the lock plate.
Feltwad

Feltwad,

We were talking about this variation of the  French cock on the lock in question, and in this type the cock  falls on the fence.  See page 1 .

All the best,
Richard.

[Hudnut]

In these photos, it can be seen that the chin on the cock's lower jaw contacts the fence, and that there is no stop shoulder on the inside of the cock to contact the top of the plate.

[tricorn hat]

My old friend had a phrase for work like that. " Made by Rolls-Royce, finished by Birks !"

[Feltwad]

Another type of French cock that rests on the pan fence on a sxs 10 bore flint lock with rain proof pans that was  favoured by the London Gun makers
Feltwad

[vanu]

How does one get in touch with the fellow that owns the Wilkinson books? I have a cased pair of Wilkinson & Son flintlock dueling pistols (#3061) that were converted to percussion and secondarily marked REVOL N. ORLEANS. on the hooked breech; it would be very interesting to find out not only date of manufacture, but if they were shipped directly to New Orleans.




how to upload pictures online

[Hudnut]

Go to www.armsresearch.co.uk.  If available, Mr. Milner will supply a photocopy of the page where your set was entered into inventory.  There is a possibility that the original purchaser of your pistol will be identified.  It would be exciting if the pistols could be traced.  They were expensive guns when made.

[vanu]

Thank you very much! It will be fascinating to see what the records show.

Bruce

[vanu]

Update...

Mr. Milner provided the page listing my cased pistols. Based on the leger, they were finished (browned)/delivered 19 June 1824, and are noted as "Best Pistols" which were ordered by an individual named Hartley. Also noted are the various artisans who worked on the set.

Very interesting information, many thanks for the recommendation to contact Milner...

Now I just have to figure out how these fine pistols made to New Orleans and when Jean Baptiste Revol converted them to percussion!

[oakridge]

Update...

Mr. Milner provided the page listing my cased pistols. Based on the leger, they were finished (browned)/delivered 19 June 1824, and are noted as "Best Pistols" which were ordered by an individual named Hartley. Also noted are the various artisans who worked on the set.

Very interesting information, many thanks for the recommendation to contact Milner...

Now I just have to figure out how these fine pistols made to New Orleans and when Jean Baptiste Revol converted them to percussion!

Revol is thought to have come to New Orleans about 1838. He first appears in city directories in 1842, so the conversion could have been done around this time at the earliest. Good luck on your quest for information.

[vanu]

Many hanks oakridge!  Stay tuned!!

Bruce