Detailed blog post on lock geometry and flintlock restoration

[rich pierce]

http://www.cablesfarm.co.uk/h-nock-flintlock-conversion/

[smylee grouch]

Thanks Rich. 

[Bob Roller]

Fascinating as Mr.Spock used to say.The part about the detent was interesting and that IS the correct name for this tiny cam.Where the name "fly"came from is???.The Nock flintlocks I made were cast steel external parts and a 3 screw mechanism very similar to the one seen
in the explanation of the "fly".The moulds came from TOW in 1978 and may still be with the Mould and Gun Shop.I passed them on to Les Barber a few years ago and he was working there.The majority of completed locks went to the shop of Helmut Mohr in Mayen/Hausen Germany for Boutet  styled target pistols.He paid for the castings needed and had preference because of that.The current L&R small Manton is similar and I made the same mechanism for those as well.Maybe Jim Kibler can use his CNC shop to make a small lock like this that would work well on small rifles as well as pistols.
Bob Roller

I looked a bit closer at the picture and it seems that the toe of the frizzen is on the top of the roller and centered.It offers no resistance to the strike of the flint and the frizzen would tend to accelerate away from the flint.On the Nocks that I sent to Germany I used the frizzen spring from the Chet Shoults Ketland and the frizzen had a slot for the roller.I ground the upper leaf of the spring to resist the strike of the flint and make a hot spark.When the roller hit the apex of the ramp it accelerated rapidly away but by then the gun had fired.
Me again.

[Cody Tetachuk]

When I made these two frizzen springs (in a previous life) I positioned the toe just past the apex of the rollers. Whether it is right or not I can't say as they are still incomplete. They FEEL right when opening the frizzed. My thought was that any less "ramp" and as you si=uggest, the frizzed would fly open before any sparking can take place and any MORE ramp would be $#*! on flints.

[Bob Roller]

Cody,
That is an elegant lock.Can ou show the part that makes it a lock and that's the mechanism?
Bob Roller

[Cody Tetachuk]

I still need to make a main spring for the one, sear springs for both and finish the sears. The lock plates, frizzens and hammers are from Peter Dyson. Most of the engraving was visible on the recasts so I recut it all.

[Pukka Bundook]

I like your locks Cody.
I like the engraving too.
We hardly ever see these late locks so very nice to see yours here.

Those are unusual bridles, but should work very well.
They remind me in a way of Thomas Boss bridles. Not the same but brought them to mind.
His are of a pattern I have seen nowhere else (in my sheltered life!)

[Bob Roller]

Those are two very unusual and good looking locks.The 2 caplocks have a high level of detailing around the screw heads and hardened filing guides are easy to make from drill rod.I used .204 diameter on all of mine and the screws are 4x40 or 48 with 5/32 heads made from .156
12L14.I enjoyed making these fancy locks and they told the first buyer/user what I thought of him or her.I don't think I will make any more
upscale locks but I do appreciate those who bought them and give a posthumous salute to those who made them over 150 years ago so we have specimens to study and copy.Shortly after I joined this forum I offered and sold 10 Twigg flintlocks with a major upgrade in the mechanisms using external parts from R.E.Davis + 4 more from customers who bought and sent parts to me.
I recently had my 87th birthday and no longer have the desire to do any bench work beyond a simple set trigger and they too are about to
become extinct from my shop.Lower back spasms and an arthritic right shoulder are here and other than a Tylenol arthritis pill once in a while I use no medication at all.
Please keep us in the loop on these 2 locks.
Bob Roller

[Daryl]

About the flying open before sparking can happen, I broke the feather spring on a L&R Dickert lock on the trail one day. I finished the trail without the feather spring. I know it's hard on the lock,
but did it anyway, No misfires. I was using Rich's River Rocks for flints. These are/were TOUGH flints.

[Bob Roller]

About the flying open before sparking can happen, I broke the feather spring on a L&R Dickert lock on the trail one day. I finished the trail without the feather spring. I know it's hard on the lock,
but did it anyway, No misfires. I was using Rich's River Rocks for flints. These are/were TOUGH flints.

This lock probably had a heavily preloaded mainspring that delivered an abrupt strike with the quality flint you had.
The arc of the cock and the very different curvature of the frizzen also was a big help.This particular lock needed the
"feather spring"only to keep it closed.
Bob Roller

[flatsguide]

Very nice looking locks. Nice work on the the TRS lock. Pukka,it looks like I see the letters ‘TB’ on the face of your lockplate. It sure in a nice piece of lockwork.
Cheers Richard