Jaeger lock

[hawkeye]

My question..... Is the Davis Jaeger lock a good and a fast lock??? Are there better options?
Hawkeye

[Ron Scott]

I won't comment of the quality of the Davis Lock. It, however is not authentic in style . If you want superb function and absolute authenticity, contact Chris Laubach for one of his.

[rich pierce]

The big long jaeger lock from Davis was a Peter Allen lock available way back in the 1970s. It’s got a lot of banana shape which requires some planning of wrist layout. The very long mainspring needs a good mainspring vise with a long arm to compress it. I used it once around 1980. It wasn’t fast but was reliable.

[alacran]

No it is not as fast as a Bailes lock, But like Rich says it is very dependable and easy on flints. I have had no issues with mine. It does have a very long and strong Mainspring.

[rich pierce]

No it is not as fast as a Bailes lock, But like Rich says it is very dependable and easy on flints. I have had no issues with mine. It does have a very long and strong Mainspring.

That is a freest use of the lock. It’s harder to use on a longrifle unless there is a stepped wrist. I have poor pictures of an original Hudson Valley fowler with a bear-identical lock.

[hawkeye]

Found this one in auction, that's the reason i'm asking

[Mike Brooks]

I have used them on Hudson Valley fowling guns. I round off the plate and cock. I had one on my own personal gun I shot for 8 years. I found it fast and dependable.

[t.caster]

I have had one on my T. Pistor style Jaeger since 1983 and it has won a lot of matches and killed a big bear and more deer than any rifle I have ever owned. So that says it must be fast and dependable enough to get the job done! No brag, just fact! ! 

[acorn20]

I have one on my short Jaeger and it's accompanied me on my jaunts afield since 1989.  As with Tom, I've had a lot of success with it so no complaints on its functionality. 

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I've only ever used one of those Davis Jaeger locks, and it served me splendidly for dozens of years.  I mated it with a Don Getz .60 cal x 31" bbl and that rifle was my go to rendezvous and hunting rifle until I gave it to a guide and outfitter for whom I worked several years ago.  I killed many black bears, mule deer, and moose with that rifle.  the lock was fast, and completely reliable.  But I will add, I rotated the tumbler a few degrees to get the flint closer to the pan, by heating it bright red and twisting it forward.  Regarding the lock's inards, the mainspring concerned me because of the big bow the lower leaf took at full cock, but it never let me down.  I have a Chambers' jaeger lock in my lock drawer, in case I want to build another jaeger.






image upload

[Daryl]

Other angles on Taylor's lock:

[tecum-tha]

Got it on my take down Jaeger rifle and it functions well.
Historical accuracy is hard to tell, depending on what time period this lock is from or if the form of the lockplate was altered for production.
I only partly agree with Ron as to past 1730ies, this lock bananas a bit too much and is generally too large.
But 1690-1720 the locks appear to be bending down somewhat more. They also tend to be mostly round faced earlier, at least from what rifles are still on the market from back then.
But without knowing the rifle the castings came from and the date of the rifle, it is extremely hard to tell.
I agree though, that it is not appropriate for some of the Jaeger rifles, especially American Revolution period rifles.
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_A__RARE_HESSIAN_FLINTLOCK_MILITARY_JAEGER_RIFLE_B-LOT512637.aspx
I think the Davis lock came from a high baroque rifle around 1690-1720 without a round face.

[utseabee]

I won't comment of the quality of the Davis Lock. It, however is not authentic in style . If you want superb function and absolute authenticity, contact Chris Laubach for one of his.

I second the the choice of a Chris Laubach lock. It is really fast for it's size and sparks extremely well. IMHO it is the best lock out there.

[Robert Wolfe]

I used one on a composite fowling gun. I modified the plate/pan/frizzen and used their "continental cock" so it looks a bit different but the internals are unchanged.  I wanted a lock that did not look like everyone else's. Works fine.

[rich pierce]

I used one on a composite fowling gun. I modified the plate/pan/frizzen and used their "continental cock" so it looks a bit different but the internals are unchanged.  Works fine.

Good application for this lock.