Bob Roller Whitmore lock

[Mike G]

There was a discussion here in the last week or so where Bob Roller mentioned that someone had tried to recreate the famous N.G. Whitmore rifle made for U.S. Grant but unfortunately the lock was of very poor quality.

I have for many years admired that rifle but also loved the look and style of all Whitmore's rifles. So some years ago I began looking for suitable parts to perhaps one day build a percussion target rifle in the Whitmore style. In my last point I came across a copy of the Whitmore Grant rifle lock on EBay lock made by By. Roller. The seller said that he had hoped to duplicate the Grant rifle but never got around to it and decided to sell the lock. I won that auction and purchased that lock and like the original owner I still haven't gotten around to building that rifle. After reading last weeks thread I sent a message to Bob Roller telling him about his lock. He suggested that I post some pictures of it here, so here it is.

[Daryl]

Interesting indeed. That there is that flat mainspring at full bent. Lovely.

[Rolf]

Thank you for posting the pictures. It's allways a pleasure an instructive to se Bob Rollers locks.

Best regards
Rolf

[Bob Roller]

Interesting indeed. That there is that flat mainspring at full bent. Lovely.

When that mainspring is off the link it has a good curve.I notice this one has a
sear that turns on a .093 pin which is polished oil hardening drill rod.That says
it was made in the late 1980's or early 1990's.The later ones all have a .1094
drill rod pin and the sear is .110.This style of lock is a test of a lock MAKERS
skills and this lock is unique in purpose. I hope it gets in to an upscale gun.
I made my first "4 pin"lock in 1987 using an original Stanton lock Lynton
McKenzie sent me to copy and not wanting to keep that old lock very long,
I gave it priority and made my first one.Lynton was surprised when I called him
and told him I had copied that lock and that all parts except the screws would
interchange with the old one.I showed it at the Spring Shoot in Friendship and
John Bivins said he was glad to see it as an option for those wanting to make
such a rifle.Most who saw said it was over priced at $250 and I told them that
they were NOT intended for barn guns or Southern Long Rifles.R.E.Davis was
listening to me and handed me $250.I told him I wanted to show it around and
he said,"Show it all you want to.Just make sure I have it when you leave".
Since then I THINK I have made 40? of these and I know of 7 for boy's rifles
that are scaled down versions.Another Lynton McKenzie item from an original
Whitworth boy's rifle.I sold some to Don Brown who was making a fine copy
of an Alex Henry Target or Hunting Rifle but he would only use my locks at the
insistence of the customer.I showed him one in Canada in 1987 and he said
"I want one for my own gun but not for my customers".That was an odd thing
to me to say the least.After Don passed away his widow called and asked me
to make 3 more for kits that were going to Sweden to a man that insisted on
my locks or he'd cancel the order.I made them and was paid.
The last one I made was for a local man,Larry Vaden and it was a Rigby style
and is in the archives of this forum thanks to Taylor Sapergia's help with it
being published.Thanks to Mike G for posting this picture of a long forgotten
project.To use this lock the plate will have to be altered a bit but if a feeble
memory serves me right,this plate was made as a semi finished item.

Bob Roller

[Blacksmoke]

It's very inspiring to see somebody, on this forum, using what God put between their ears!  Again nice work Bob!!
   Hugh  Toenjes

[Craig Wilcox]

That is a very elegant piece of work by Bob Roller.  You've done very well with your locks, and I hope one day to have one in one of my ML's.

[Jim Kibler]

Beautiful lock, Bob!  Thanks for sharing.

Jim

[Bob Roller]

It means a lot to me to get approval from people whose abilities far surpass
anything I have done.Thanks a lot to all of you.
Bob Roller