Gun Show Hadaway Lock

[t.caster]

Found these two items at a local mostly modern Gun & Knife Show yesterday.
An old concave curved spoke shave plane I have been looking for years to shape the concave cheek piece area. It is marked SNELL & ATHERTON on the blade. After cleaning and sharpening it worked pretty good!

The second was a new German style flintlock of which I had never seen, but the price was only $75 so I brought it home. The castings looked clean & sharp and the springs were stout and the whole thing was smooth operating, though it will need polishing & tuning of course. He had two of them & the guy, whom I had never met before, only lived a few miles from me. He said the locks were made by a company named A.C.E., whom I had never heard of either. After flipping the cut flint over, bevel up, it threw a great bunch of sparks right into the pan repeatedly!
Anyone know of this maker or used one of these locks?

[Kevin]

T.Caster,

The lock looks alot like a Haddaway.  Check out this tread:

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=57400.msg573925#msg573925

Nice Finds,
Kevin

[Bob McBride]

Yep. I knew I’d seen that stamp somewhere very recently. Nice lock.

[Jim Kibler]

In it's day this may have been a decent lock, but in my view it's seriously lacking in a number of ways.  But, if it works and makes sparks this might be good enough.  This is an example of how things have progressed.   With work, I'm sure it could be improved, though.

All the best,
Jim

[t.caster]

Definitely heard of Haddaway locks back in the day. But these looked so brand new. He bought a bunch of ML accessories, like you see in sporting goods stores and didn't know anything about them.

[SingleMalt]

That's a nice lock, and it looks to be nearly new.  Nice score!

[iloco]

That looks like a Hadaway lock.  I have one on a Tennessee Mt Rifle that was made in the early 70's. 

[Bob Roller]

That IS a Haddaway lock.They worked fine and I have never heard any hard remarks against them.

Bob Roller

[little joe]

Haddaway was making these about 1970 and we most likly never heard of a C and C machine at that time. Used several and no trouble.

[mikeyfirelock]

“ in the day,”  this was a high quality lock.  Used  several, very happy with them.

[t.caster]

Thanks for all the input, I have had a couple offers to sell it, but I am going to keep it. After I am done tuning it, it will be better than "just good enough" or I won't use it. Period. I have always used the best available locks and barrels on my longrifles and will continue to do so.

[iloco]

I broke 2 of those little springs at the rear of the inside of the lock.  I was able to get a few spares from Doc Hadaways wife who lived in Asheville NC at the time. That is only problem I have had with my lock.  Not sure if she is still liviing. She would be pretty old if she is.

[Waksupi]

I have a Hadaway on a rifle, works every time.

[t.caster]

I'm surprised no one commented on the curved plane. I saw one in a farm museum last summer and thought having one would be the cat's meow! I've gotten a LOT of use from the other two as well. Had those at least 40 years.

[rickw]

Your curved spoke shave is really a leather-working tool. Snell and Atherton made tools for shoe making and leather working, and your curved spoke shave is really a heel shave for shaping the heels of shoes.
I used to have one. However, I never used it. I couldn't remove the blade to sharpen it. The two screws that hold it to the body were frozen in place, and the screw slots were messed up. So I never used it.
I hope that you can use yours. However, the mouth may be too wide to avoid tear-out, especially if you use it on curly maple. Sharpen it up and try it out, and let us know how it works!
Rick W

[Niall]

I'm surprised no one commented on the curved plane. I saw one in a farm museum last summer and thought having one would be the cat's meow! I've gotten a LOT of use from the other two as well. Had those at least 40 years.

It's called a Cobbler's Heel Shave.I have one somewhere as well.......What I use for concave work is a wooden bodied  shave with a curved blade I made  for hollowing chair bottoms.....it's  called a travisher.
If the heel shave works for you.....Great

[t.caster]

The heal shave worked OK on the cherry stock I am working on now, but I am also leery of using it on curly maple. But I will try it next time. I have to be very careful of grain direction with the other shaves too. Especially on very curly maple.

[Jim Kibler]

A question...  Would it offend people if we talked about this lock and offered critiques?  This sort of thing seems to often be avoided because it might insult the manufacturer or builder.  As a result, I don't think people by and large understand locks.  If it generally looks like a lock and is shiny it's often considered good.  There is as much to understanding locks as there is to understanding a rifle stock and it's design.  Just some thoughts...

All the best,
Jim

[flinchrocket]

Go for it!

[WadePatton]

...  As a result, I don't think people by and large understand locks.  If it generally looks like a lock and is shiny it's often considered good.  There is as much to understanding locks as there is to understanding a rifle stock and it's design.  Just some thoughts...

All the best,
Jim

Let'er rip
Tater
Chip! 

For 75$ I'd buy a Germanic lock (not my style-generally) and see about making it reliable and install worthy (for a proper gun)- especially since Bob has spoken to the general soundness of such.  But I respect your opinions as well Jim, seems you have some on this particular design.

[iloco]

Since I have a Hadaway lock I would like to hear critiques of it.
 I have wanted to change mine out to a Siler lock but never got around to it.  Good idea Jim.  Might want to start a new thread if the OP don't want it in this thread.

[WadePatton]

Hey Jim, there's another thread on this lock, might be the other one from the show--may as well start a new thread or we'll be chasing two discussion points for one lock.

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=57400.msg573925#msg573925

[oldtravler61]

  All for it Jim. I know I have had problems with trying to fix certain locks.  Would much appreciate this information.

Oldtravler

[rick/pa]

I used a Haddaway lock on the second rifle I built in 1976. Never had any problems with it but haven't used it for many years.  Since Doc died getting parts would be a major problem.  I seem to recall that he also made frizzens for either T/C or Lyman.

[little joe]

A question...  Would it offend people if we talked about this lock and offered critiques?  This sort of thing seems to often be avoided because it might insult the manufacturer or builder.  As a result, I don't think people by and large understand locks.  If it generally looks like a lock and is shiny it's often considered good.  There is as much to understanding locks as there is to understanding a rifle stock and it's design.  Just some thoughts...

All the best,
Jim

Good idea as long as it is done in a very respectful manner Doc has been gone for 42 yrs. He most likly was developing this lock in the 60,s as I was using them by 1972. I do admire fine workmanship such as what  Bob Roller has been doing for years. In 82 I had a large Siler perc. plate I  fitted a small Siler pan and frizzen to with large Siler hammer and internals and a home forged main spring with a Land R frizzen spring with a roller. I did all the heat treating to the parts. Mistakes, many, eye appealing, no way, ignition VERY fast and reliable and has lasted 38 yrs. Beauty is wonderful but sometimes not necessary. If any of you older shooters ever shot with J.L. Hargis , his equiptment was  Very plain but functioned well and was reliable.