Mule ear 'Kit'??

[Metalshaper]

Does anyone recognize these? evidently they were sold at some point as a 'Kit' ? The one with the steel plate my bud Pat Donohue had, but he never said
where it came from and I'm sure it was third hand anyways. Does anyone know when,where, who made these?? I know they exist in the wild, but I've never ran
into one myself.  As a builder of Mule ear locks, they intrigue me and it's always interesting to see how someone else went about putting these together.

I'd appreciate any help and knowledge you can share!!

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[Daryl]

I recall seeing adds for those in kit form. It was so long ago, makes me think it might have been a Dixie Gun Works add in a Gun Magazine.

[smylee grouch]

A photo of the inside of the lock might jar someones memory. 

[Bob Roller]

I never tried to make one and forgot about them.I would also like to se the mechanism(s).
We have another variant in our Museum here that is an OVER striker and cocked by compressing
a spur or lever and the nipple is threaded directly into the barrel top flat.
Bob Roller

[Metalshaper]

this is the parts picture, that I found a  long time ago. never got a clear where or who made them???
Not much to them really. sear, link, fly and mainspring..along with hammer and plate.. Not shown are two pins that are run vertically through the plate itself.
The hammer and sear ride on these.

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan


my unfinished design, using an outside mainspring.. with a Medberry pattern lock laying behind it.

[44-henry]

Dixon's has a few hammers for those in stock, they might have an idea where they came from. I have a similar but not identical mule ear lock that the previous owner swore was produced and sold by William Buchle at one time, it is not the first person I have heard that from either.

[Daryl]

"Sideslappers" my long time gone now friend and mentor, Lester H. Hawkes, They are a very interesting lock design.

[rick/pa]

 Dale Storey made mule ear locks, I believe he lived in Oregon or thereabouts. Sam Fadala's Black Powder Handbook has a picture of one in Chapter 23, Major Lock Types. Mr Storey received a patent for it.  It does not look like the one above in this post.

[Metalshaper]

Rick,

Yeah, the Storey locks are pretty well known! I also have the Fadala books that feature them. I appreciate your reply

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[Mikeh]

     
    Not to hard to make and they work exceptionally well and no drum to contend with. I have some that i have
    had for 30 or 35 years and not one missfire as of yet.  You percussion shooters need to look into them. You
    wouldn't be sorry.  Best regards, Mikeh

[Metalshaper]

Just got off the phone with Dixon's.. They weren't aware of what I am looking for?

and it's not so much that I've gotta find one of these locks!  just seems odd to me that nobody seems to know
for sure, where they came from or who made them??

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[LynnC]

I see the sear bar in standard location but rather than lifting, it seems it must be pushed or pulled rearward. What sort of trigger setup is used with the mule ear lock?  Perhaps a single trigger pinned  high above the bar? Or

[Metalshaper]

The muley can use a long bar trigger pinned high, or there is a two piece camming style. probably a couple others I haven't used?

there is a 'bell crank' mod that allows the muley lock to use a normal vertical acting sear to trip the mechanism. I think the L&R muley
has that mod built into its design?

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[Gunnermike]

Yep, the L&R mule ear lock has a bell crank sear built into it.




So does my 90% Jenks copy:




Mike

[Metalshaper]

Gunnermike,

NICE ! are you building a Jenks?? I've thought of doing that for my project..


Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[Gunnermike]

Yes, I'm building a Jenks lock. It's a 100% size copy with modifications using modern screw sizes.  I'm building a copy with a straight hammer tang like the very early version of the Jenks lock.  This is where I am at the moment:



Mike

[Metalshaper]

OK,
that's good work! we have talked about this on another forum using a .52 cal barrel or what ??
< I'll ask more elsewhere.. the Jenk's isn't exactly ALR fodder >

  My shop is now all jacked up, as we are having foundation work done..over the next week or so.  Once that's done..it's gonna take more than
a minute to get everything back in working order.. who knew my wife collected so much "STUFF"   

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[LynnC]

Thanks for the trigger and lock info MetalShaper

[Metalshaper]

Lynn,

Glad I could be of some help!

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[Metalshaper]

LynnC,

Here is the parts drawing I did with my bud Marlow. These were taken from a Navy Arms 'Poor Boy' Muley. The owner asked us to clean it up and insure it was in working order ( he had never mucked with it? ) he said we could do whatever we needed to, to get the measurements! You can see the camming trigger arrangement at the bottom of the page. This page doesn't print off as nearly 100% as it once did< or as clearly>..  with careful scaling/printing you can get them close enough to use as templates using a few copies and overlaying them... Years ago, Laurie Fenton, from WoyWoy New South Wales had documented his Muley build process,< think it was even in a British hobby Mechanical Engineering magazine?> His cam'd trigger was very similar to the NA rifle.

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

P.s. my Miss Muley uses a cam'd trigger and is a bit more compact, than either the NA or Fenton, I think?? 

[LynnC]

Oh Double Thanks MetalShaper. I feel a new project coming on 😉 I have been wanting to build a side slapper for some time now.

[jgraham1]

Maybe these guys can give you some info:

https://pioneerarms.com/mule_ear_lock.html

Jerry

[Metalshaper]

I'm convinced these lock "Kits" are the Muzzle loading equivalent of a Snow flake.
We know they are real, but you can't hold it in your hand??

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[Ian Pratt]

Jonathan I bought some of those castings (with the brass plate) from Jerry Devaudreuil years ago at Friendship. Jerry is no longer with us and I don't know if they're available anywhere anymore. I don't have any left. 

[Gaeckle]

Jonathan I bought some of those castings (with the brass plate) from Jerry Devaudreuil years ago at Friendship. Jerry is no longer with us and I don't know if they're available anywhere anymore. I don't have any left.

I think that one of the relatives  has what's left of Jerry's stuff. If you call the Log Cabin and ask for guidance about these castings you may find some.