Help with barrel key escutions

[Nordnecker]

This is a situation where one escution is missing. The one on the key head side is there, but the other one isn't. The key is captured and only comes out about 5/16".

On the other side, you can see the key is not long enough to come through the side of the stock.

So, would the other escution have a slot in it? I think it would look odd if it had a slot without a key in it. Or would be solid without a slot?

[ron w]

i'd speculate that the original escutcheon did have a slot and that the existing key is not the original.

[L. Akers]

I agree with Ron that the key is not original.  In your first photo you can see the outline of the original key head on the escutcheon.  The present key has no head.  The original key would most likely have been steel not the present brass.

[Huntschool]

I also agree with Ron.  There is an obvious "shadow" where the orig. key head rested on the escutcheon.

I would think one could copy the escutcheon fairly easily.  Have at it....

[Tim Crosby]

 What do the other keys and escutcheons look like?

  Tim

[Nordnecker]

I don't want anybody to get bent over this, but this is not turning out how I had hoped.

What do the other keys and escutcheons look like look like?

  Tim

There are no other keys or ecsutcheons on this gun. The entire forestock is missing from the entry pipe forward. This a Winchester Va fowler, most likely from the Lauck shop. Pictures of other Lauck guns show brass keys exactly like this one. If you look closely, you will see that the key has a "head" on it. It is simply bent up, allowing you to pull it out with your fingernail.

The shadow that you see is actually where the wriggle engraving circles the head and has been worn away from fingernails, etc.

It is interresting to me that the key is so short. It holds the Bbl as it should but does not protrude from the other side. This allows the key to exit the tennon with a very short pull. I don't see how it could have gotten broken like this because  the slot would have to be longer for it to be pulled out more.

I had not considered the idea of this key being a replacement.
This picture might help