flintlock main spring

[sgtmik]

Hi from a new guy.
I just received my Kibler Woodsrunner and I took my barrel and lock for engraving. Can anyone tell me can the lock mainspring vise also be used to remove the frizzen spring.
One more question. When you disassemble the lock for browning, do you only brown the lock plate, cock and frizzen?
Best regards to all.
Mike O'Donnell
Las Vegas, NV

[okawbow]

For the Woodsrunner, I would polish the lock and leave it “In the white”. Especially if it is engraved.
Lock should be polished smooth. There have been several posts on finishing locks.

[smylee grouch]

Welcome Mike: A lot or people use the same vice for both springs. But It's kinda handy to have two vices.

[sgtmik]

Thanks I will look for those threads on polishing the lock.

[rich pierce]

Thanks I will look for those threads on polishing the lock.

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=2585.0

[Lucky R A]

       I find that a small C clamp works well as a frizzen spring clamp.   Just rotate the frizzen to the point where the foot compresses the frizzen spring to the maximum amount and tighten the C clamp tight---then just a bit more.  Put your frizzen back into its normal position.  You can now remove the spring easily.  Most mainspring vices are too big and cumbersom to work well on a frizzen spring. 

Ron











c

[smallpatch]

The best vise I’ve ever used. From musket locks to Becky locks. Mainspring to frizzen springs, it will do it all.

[Daryl]

That's quite an adjustable spring compressor Dane.

[Jim Kibler]

I believe that vise was Tom Curran's invention

Jim

[Jim Kibler]

So, for just a kit or two, you can get by with just about any mainspring vise.  The cheap little black ones work well for a frizzen spring and a lock the size of our Ketland.  Our round faced lock benefits from a larger one, though you could probably get by with one of the little black ones.  I think these are made by Pedersolli. 

A good functioning but affordable vise is on the list of things we want to make and start selling.

Jim

[Dwshotwell]

The best vise I’ve ever used. From musket locks to Becky locks. Mainspring to frizzen springs, it will do it all.

This looks WAY more versatile than any design I’ve seen. Are these available somewhere? If not, some ALR machinist should get on it!

[smallpatch]

Jim is right. It is an invention of the late Tom Curran. I believe someone told me Jim Chambers sells them as well.

[mjohnson]

The Tom Curran mainspring vise is also available from Dixie Gunworks.

[Joe Stein]

Jim Chambers also carries the Tom Curran spring vise. I believe he helped Tom get the castings made.

[Scota4570]

Hi from a new guy.
I just received my Kibler Woodsrunner and I took my barrel and lock for engraving. Can anyone tell me can the lock mainspring vise also be used to remove the frizzen spring.
One more question. When you disassemble the lock for browning, do you only brown the lock plate, cock and frizzen?
Best regards to all.
Mike O'Donnell
Las Vegas, NV

I adapted some cheap vice grips for a frizzen spring compressor.

[Daryl]

Yikes - but, I've been there.

[Bob Roller]

Hi from a new guy.
I just received my Kibler Woodsrunner and I took my barrel and lock for engraving. Can anyone tell me can the lock mainspring vise also be used to remove the frizzen spring.
One more question. When you disassemble the lock for browning, do you only brown the lock plate, cock and frizzen?
Best regards to all.
Mike O'Donnell
Las Vegas, NV
[/quote



I adapted some cheap vice grips for a frizzen spring compressor.

Rotate the frizzen so it will compress the spring to where ever and THEN with the least amount of pressure needed from the vise grips compress it and remobe the screw and then the spring.
Bob Roller (Retired lock maker)

[TDM]

I’d recommend not browning any lock parts. But it’s your build and up to you.

[Cody Tetachuk]

Rotate the frizzen so it will compress the spring to where ever and THEN with the least amount of pressure needed from the vise grips compress it and remobe the screw and then the spring.
Bob Roller (Retired lock maker)

This is all I did for YEARS. Similar process for the main spring, bring the cock to full bent, adjust vice grips to just hold the spring then release the sear and let the cock back down and remove. No need to compress the spring with the grips, just "hold" it. The risk is DON'T LET THE VICE GRIPS SLIP OF THE SPRING WHILE IN THIS COMPRESSED STATE. Compressing a spring will rarely break one but a sudden "snap" release will. This is why if one runs their truck with bagged shocks you will break leaf springs from the uncontrolled "snap" back from compression to relaxed when hitting a significant bump.

[smylee grouch]

I had a vice grip for the frizzen spring at one time. I glued some leather strips on jaws and it worked OK until I loaned it out and never got it back.

[sgtmik]

Welcome Mike: A lot or people use the same vice for both springs. But It's kinda handy to have two vices.

Just rec

[sgtmik]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I just today received a second mainspring vise from TOW. As soon as my new Sear arrives, I will get busy.
In the meantime, I completed my first shot at carving a Patch box lid. Not too bad I'm still trying to figure out what to put on the tang and sides. May I will do beavers tails for a first attempt. Like most new builderes I am afraid of messing it up.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Jim is right. It is an invention of the late Tom Curran. I believe someone told me Jim Chambers sells them as well.

I did not know Tom had passed away - sad. I met him at one of the Dixon Muzzleloading Fair's years back. Nice guy and very talented.
<https://www.hudsonvalley360.com/obituaries/thomas-a-curran/article_f58dc4ca-0e36-5a76-83ed-3940ec63303a.html>

[Daryl]

I think most of us have this model.
If the angle is ground from the top jaw, it will also fit feather springs.

[sgtmik]

i got these at Track of the Wolf. They should do the trick.