Royland Southgate Tumbler Issue with pictures

[bbhf]

I have a Southgate flintlock rifle circa 1958 that has a bad safety notch: can a tumbler from another lock be used? this rifle is in nice shape and i would like to shoot it: can anyone please help me with this issue? thanks, skip

[smylee grouch]

You could try Cabin Creek ( 717-757-5841 ) as one option.

[J. Talbert]

From that time frame I'm guessing it may be an original or a handmade lock.  Finding a tumbler that is workable may be possible, but a bit of a $#@* shoot.  If a suitable one was available, it would surely need some tweaking at the least.
The other problem is that you won't simply have a pile of assorted tumblers in front of you to compare and pick from.
It may be easier to find someone with the capability of making a new one.

Jeff

[bbhf]

Thank for your reply: i just read that he may have used Russ Hamm lock parts and finished them for his guns: i will try cabin creek: i was hoping that others may have had a similar problem and found a tumbler that was close: thanks again for the help: sk

[Hungry Horse]

Many of the older Southgate rifles used the old Dixie F1, or P1, locks. The dead giveaway on these locks is the tumbler does not have an axle the goes through the bridle. Also, a close look at these locks will reveal that they weren’t cast, but were milled from stock. They also have a Germanic style pan on the flintlocks. The internals are all the same.

  Hungry Horse

[Howard]

Weld it up & recut the notch's.

[Hungry Horse]

Another indication that the lock you have was imported by Dixie Gun Works would be the frizzen spring has a roller on the end.

  Hungry Horse

[bbhf]

Thanks for the replies: tumbler has a locating pin that goes trough the bridle: plate looks like brass? i am trying to post pics but can't seem to find a tab to allow me to access my pics: sk

[Hungry Horse]

If the plate is brass, it is likely Rowland made the lock himself, or made the externals, and used internals from a production lock.

  Hungry Horse

[bbhf]

I think so: I will follow up with cabin creek: thanks, skip

[bbhf]

lets see if this works: sk

[bbhf]

one more: sk

[Hungry Horse]

The internals don’t look particularly familiar either, so it is likely Royland made them as well. This makes the gun kind of special, but that doesn’t help you get replacement parts. You will probably have to weld up the tumbler, and recut the notches.

  Hungry Horse

[Bob Roller]

A new tumbler ought to be made.That mainspring is too close to the end
of the tumbler and if it comes off it may wreck the stock.

Bob Roller

[Herb]

I had to build up a Southgate tumbler notch about 30 years ago.  Welded it up and filed it out, didn't know what I was doing.  Told the owner that was a temporary repair and to have someone repair it who knew what they were doing.

[bbhf]

thank you to all for the advice: welding would not be an issue but getting the slot at the right angle would be tricky: skip