Bedford County Style Caplock

[BigSkyRambler]

Nice Bedford County style caplock. Douglas .45 barrel. Lock stamped DEAN MITTON inside.
It is my understanding that Mitton took over Russ Hamm's lock business.  I have also read that his locks did not live up to his predecessor's work. Any thoughts on this?

[rich pierce]

Percussion locks are not that complicated. They just pop a cap. I’d not be concerned.

[oldtravler61]

  Like Rich said no concern but Dean Mutton flintlocks are a whole different animal...lol

[T*O*F]

Percussion locks are not that complicated. They just pop a cap. I’d not be concerned.

Now that's funny!!  I wonder if Bob Roller and all the long range shooters who use his Alex Henry and Gibbs locks agree.

[rich pierce]

Percussion locks are not that complicated. They just pop a cap. I’d not be concerned.

Now that's funny!!  I wonder if Bob Roller and all the long range shooters who use his Alex Henry and Gibbs locks agree.

A Rolex and a Timex both keep time. People don’t buy a Rolex because it keeps better time. They buy it because they like top shelf things. But I’d be interested in any head to head tests between percussion locks that show improved ignition reliability or speed. Durability - I can see that. Who buys something isn’t real performance data -is it?

[JTR]

Percussion locks are not that complicated. They just pop a cap. I’d not be concerned.

Now that's funny!!  I wonder if Bob Roller and all the long range shooters who use his Alex Henry and Gibbs locks agree.

A Rolex and a Timex both keep time. People don’t buy a Rolex because it keeps better time. They buy it because they like top shelf things. But I’d be interested in any head to head tests between percussion locks that show improved ignition reliability or speed. Durability - I can see that. Who buys something isn’t real performance data -is it?

I'd guess you've never pulled the trigger on a Roller lock.

[rich pierce]

Percussion locks are not that complicated. They just pop a cap. I’d not be concerned.

Now that's funny!!  I wonder if Bob Roller and all the long range shooters who use his Alex Henry and Gibbs locks agree.

A Rolex and a Timex both keep time. People don’t buy a Rolex because it keeps better time. They buy it because they like top shelf things. But I’d be interested in any head to head tests between percussion locks that show improved ignition reliability or speed. Durability - I can see that. Who buys something isn’t real performance data -is it?

I'd guess you've never pulled the trigger on a Roller lock.

Actually I have, on 3 different locks made by Bob. I love them because I can appreciate nice things.  With a double set triggers, I’ve never felt the trigger pull.

[t.caster]

One of my early guns (late 70s) had a Mitton Maslin lock on it. I hate to say it turned to JUNK in no time at all. I had one of those Bedford locks too that was so weak springed it barely popped a cap. I think heat treat and tempering, and the steel used was an issue on both of them.

[Bob Roller]

Thanks to all of you for the fine comments on my work making locks.It shows my opinion of the buyer and myself as the maker..
Good material and accurate measurement is critical and no hurry to get the lob done.As mentioned earlier,I had the good fortune to
get the trust and help of Lynton McKenzie who had locks made by the top makers in England.Ireland and Scotland and he would lend them to me for as long as I needed them  and would take one off of a gun if he thought it was of use as a study item.ALL of them were and still are.The loss oft this very skilled man to cancer was a blow to more than one and not just because of his generosity. He was a master engraver that did new work and restored the work of past masters.My shop is small but well equipped for jobs I can easily do other than locks and triggers.I had two locks started when I stopped working.One is a Hawken with the primitive mechanism seen in most American locks and the other is a scaled down version of a Stanton "4 pin" for a boys rifle or a pistol.It's another made possible by a loan from Lynton McKenzie.He tool it from a "Rook Rifle" and I made the smaller patterns for the screw spacing as was done on the march rifle locks.
One last thing,On March 27,Barbie Chambers and I will have a birthday.I think the calendar of this forum says she will be 50;I will hit 89 and hope to stagger on to 90.OK,rant over and thanks again for the nice remarks.RETURNING to the quesrion about Dean Mitton and Russ Hamm,Hamm sold out to Mitton and nothing changed as far as quality control was concerned.Hamm told me in front of a group of people at Friendship that I was crazy because of the time I put into making a lock.Quality control was not a factor in his shop
Bob Roller 

[Bob Roller]

I made a FEW Bedford style locks year ago and they are not easy to make,That narrow plate doesn't accommodate a mechanism mych beyond what is shown here.I tried a linked mainspring but it wasn't satisfactory so I saved the main and sear springs and the sear and the tumbler and link went to the trash can.
Bob Roller

[Bob Roller]

Percussion locks are not that complicated. They just pop a cap. I’d not be concerned.

Was it the same cap that caused so many fine locks to be converted to a more positive system of igniting powder and made long range muzzle loaders possible?
Bob Roller