Mold and Gun Shop locks?

[tecum-tha]

Looking for some locks and on Muzzleloaders builders supply, there are a couple locks shown which are made by the Mold and Gun Shop (Larry Zorne).
Any opinions on those locks in comparison to Chambers, L&R and Davis? I have locks of the latter in my guns, but always interested in other brands as well.

[David Rase]

They are good locks.  Definitely better than the current crop of Davis and L&R.  Comparable quality to Chambers, at leat in my opinion.  I have a couple and am happy with them.
David

[tecum-tha]

Thanks Dave.

[bob in the woods]

They are good locks.  Definitely better than the current crop of Davis and L&R.  Comparable quality to Chambers, at leat in my opinion.  I have a couple and am happy with them.
David

I have used a number of the Davis round face English locks and although I wouldn't describe them as being as refined as the Chambers, they have given good service.  What's changed ?

[rich pierce]

They are good locks.  Definitely better than the current crop of Davis and L&R.  Comparable quality to Chambers, at leat in my opinion.  I have a couple and am happy with them.
David

I have used a number of the Davis round face English locks and although I wouldn't describe them as being as refined as the Chambers, they have given good service.  What's changed ?

Bob, that big round faced Davis lock is a very good sparker. On some Davis locks one issue is that the sear arm is oddly way up high above the lower edge of the lockplate. I found a Davis lock to be the best look for a Deringer rifle build but felt compelled to make a new sear and sear spring to make it right. But in addition to their colonial round faced lock I find their colonial Germanic lock to be a good big sparker. I have slimmed it some, thinning the bolster and therefore the frizzen needed some trimming on the inner surface. But, I like to mess around with locks.

[EC121]

M&G locks are fine sparkers.  I have one.  It really lit up the blind when I touched off the rifle in a dark ground blind while shooting a deer. 

[Curtis]

They are good locks.  Definitely better than the current crop of Davis and L&R.  Comparable quality to Chambers, at leat in my opinion.  I have a couple and am happy with them.
David

+2!

Curtis

[smart dog]

Hi,
I've only used one M&G lock.  It was their "Albrecht" lock and I selected it because it was the closest to the original lock on the Edward Marshall rifle.  I added a bridle to the pan and worked the rest of the lock over a lot.  I rate it about par with Davis locks but with stronger springs.  My biggest complaint is the way the bolster is ground at its back edge. There is no need for that.  It is not needed to clear the main spring.  However, it interferes right where I wanted the rear lock bolt to go, which was to be a blind hole. 





I filled it in with weld and worked over the lock.  The final product worked very well.














dave

[Stoner creek]

Here’s one that Jud Brennan used for my Anties gun. This one is the Albrecht.


 
Mike Brooks put one on my Oerter and it’s an extremely reliable lock. I have used the Classic a number of times on smaller size guns and they are very reliable too.

[Robby]

What is the difference between the Davis locks and the M&G locks? Years ago a Davis lock was something that required quite a bit of work to make into a good reliable little machine. I thought Mr. Zorne took over the making of Davis locks. Everything I have received from M&G has been top notch, ready to use with the usual clean up required for any lock.
Robby

[rich pierce]

What is the difference between the Davis locks and the M&G locks? Years ago a Davis lock was something that required quite a bit of work to make into a good reliable little machine. I thought Mr. Zorne took over the making of Davis locks. Everything I have received from M&G has been top notch, ready to use with the usual clean up required for any lock.
Robby

Design, not assembly and heat treatment.

[Mike Brooks]

I have used most of Zorne's locks. All that I have used have been excellent. The classic is real handy for Leghigh guns. I have used dozens of the round faced english locks in my Carolina guns....I think Zornes makes those for Davis. Anyway, they are all dependable and fast. The big Germanic lock works surprisingly well and the Albrecht is a real champ...you wouldn't think so as it really loads up when you cock it, but you can't argue with its dependability or speed.

[Bob Roller]

They should have the moulds for the plate,frizzen and cock for the Nock that I made a bunch of for the Germans.
Very similar to the L&R Small Manton.I used the top jaw from the Shoults lock and its frizzen spring to complete this
lock extrnally.I sold very few here but never tried to.
Bob Roller

[Eric Kettenburg]

I just used the 'Albrecht' lock on a funky project and I agree with Dave:  there is no need at all for those bolster cuts and they p*$$ed me off.  I'd also prefer it had a detachable pan.  Other than that it does spark very well and uses good stout springs.

[Mike Brooks]

I just used the 'Albrecht' lock on a funky project and I agree with Dave:  there is no need at all for those bolster cuts and they p*$$ed me off.  I'd also prefer it had a detachable pan.  Other than that it does spark very well and uses good stout springs.

I have soldered a little patch as a filler for that area. My guess is it originally was designed for a different mainspring .

[tecum-tha]

Thanks smart dog, that is a good internal photo documentation with the bolster.
Now, is this a cut out in the casting or a manual grind out afterwards while assembling the lock.
Do all of their locks have that bolster cut out, or just this Albrecht lock?
I think Mr. Zornes is probably interested hearing feedback as well, especially if it improves his customer s' experience.

[Stoner creek]

I’m pretty sure that Larry has sold his business to Log Cabin Shop while still assembling locks for them. He was doing a lot of work for Davis before they sold to Log Cabin

[Mike Brooks]

Thanks smart dog, that is a good internal photo documentation with the bolster.
Now, is this a cut out in the casting or a manual grind out afterwards while assembling the lock.
Do all of their locks have that bolster cut out, or just this Albrecht lock?
I think Mr. Zornes is probably interested hearing feedback as well, especially if it improves his customer s' experience.

All of the Albrechts are cast that way. Their other locks aren't.