The Best Flint Locks

[Hanshi]

Among my few firelocks I do have a modest variety of flint lock makes/styles and have no complaints about any of them.  Some are a bit more reliable than others but all of them are, IMHO, very reliable.  There are four Silers, 2 large and 2 small.  They came with the guns.  There are also Chambers Colonial Va lock, a Golden Age lock and a Late Ketland from him.  I've only ever owned one (1) bad flint lock.  It came on a Pedersoli - normally a top tier maker - and was about as bad as a lock can get.  That nice rifle is long gone due to that crummy lock.  I did somehow manage to take several deer with it, however.

The Colonial Va lock is on a smoothbore and is an amazing device.  Reliable to a fault, it can set your shirt on fire.  The Golden Age is on a .50 rifle; another fantastic lock that needs no qualification.  The Chambers late Ketland is an excellent lock, fast and reliable.  But it can be on occasion just a bit "persnickety".  The two small Silers are good locks and I rely on them to do a good job.  Both had a small problem initially and one had to be returned for a new frizzen.  The Silers are not from Chambers, per se.  They were probably built from the Chambers kits.  The small Siler is not my favorite but they now do their job very well.  The two large Silers are about as good as a lock can get.  Super reliable and they look good on a longrifle.  The two are like the energizer bunny; they never stop.

My "favorite" lock is actually a lock I do not own and never have owned.  This is the Chambers "jaeger" lock.  I like it because it is the best looking lock I've seen.  I'd sure  love to have a jaeger or early Lancaster with that lock.

Anyone want to comment on locks; theirs, other's, favorite or least favorite?  I just want to get a good thread started about locks and talking about them.   

[old salt]

I do not have any that I hate Or Love more than the others. I have had some that did not spark as well out of the box, those I simply turned flint over. I will not say that turning the flint over will cure all problems, but it is a good starting point.

Old Salt

[Hanshi]

I commonly do the same, old salt.

[Cranbrook]

I agree with you Hanshi in regards to all the flintlocks made and sold by Jim Chambers!  My most recent build centered on one of his "Dale Johnson" locks.  I used it for the ignition system on a 31" Getz barreled jaeger style rifle in 60 caliber.  Germanic styling for a "proper" Germanic rifle, except I used a highly figured piece of curly ash wood for the stock.

Anyway, the Johnson lock is a sure shot sparker that I have been very happy with!  I do have on hand for my next building project, one of Chambers early Germanic flintlocks.  It will be used to make a European walnut halfstock fowler in 24 guage (58 caliber smooth bore). 

I have never owned or used any of the larger round faced English or Virginia locks on any guns but did once cock one that was on display at a gunshow.  It felt like I was setting a rat trap!! WOW!  I did not set the lock off for a spark test, but instead slowly guided it back to rest position.  Pretty sure that thing would have set the table on fire!

Another rifle I built a couple of years ago utilized an L&R Bailes flintlock.  I chose this small size lock because of the near perfect fit into an unknown pre-cut mortise in the walnut stock I acquired.  I admit that I do not like pre-carves but this piece of wood from a stump cut tree just couldn't be passed up!  I am also happy with that little locks performance!  So far, it has not let me down once!

[Patocazador]

The only two flintlocks I have are a pre-owned custom one by a poor craftsman in Texas named Haley which has a small Siler and a CVA mountain pistol kit I put together with the lock that was supplied.
The small Siler is a good lock but the maker of the rifle inletted it in so the touch hole is high and rear from where it should be. Therefore I have to completely fill the pan with 4F to get it near the touch hole.
The CVA lock is not as smooth but functions adequately.

[Hanshi]

Cranbrook, you and Mike Lange, our gun builder emeritus, both dislike pre carved stocks.  He built from a plank and his work was superb; and we miss him very much.

That Chambers early Germanic lock is one I'd love to own.  And you're correct about the Colonial Va lock; it's a sparking monster.  The one you handled must have had a particularly strong mainspring; mine starts off pretty stiff but then gets easier. as it's pulled back.  Got any photos to post?

[Cranbrook]

"https://image.ibb.co/eednAQ/P1030687.jpg"

<img src="https://image.ibb.co/gAczMS/P1040115.jpg" alt="P1040115" border="0" />

<img src="https://image.ibb.co/eh9tGS/P1040124.jpg" alt="P1040124" border="0" />

<img src="https://image.ibb.co/nH0dH5/P1030676.jpg" alt="P1030676" border="0" />

<img src="https://image.ibb.co/j1OXc5/P1030695.jpg" alt="P1030695" border="0" />

[Hanshi]

Those are super nice rifles.  I especially like the jaegers and SMRs.

[Patocazador]

Cranbrook, your work looks flawless. The same goes for your stone mason. However, you should sue the painter. 

[hotfxr]

The most dependable flintlock I own is the cheapest and cheesiest. That ugly, two piece stock, poorly built kit, just a drilled hole no vent liner, Jukar .45. Go figure. 

[doggoner]

In my experience the best locks are the one you used to own or the one you are about to buy. Just my take on this and, of course, YMMV.

doggoner

[Hanshi]

Hotfxr, my bro, "good" is not how something looks, but rather how something works.

Doggoner, I think you'll get a lot of agreement on that.

[hotfxr]

Hotfxr, my bro, "good" is not how something looks, but rather how something works.

That's kind of what I was saying. Whomever put this kit together did everything poorly. I would have expected the lock to perform the same, poorly. Out of six flintlock rifles, this is the only one that has sparked first time and every time. And to top it off, it shoots pretty darn well.

It must be because, being the talented and skilled person I am, I did polish up the lock parts so it is a lot smoother than it was when I got it. My magnificent bluing job on the barrel would explain the accuracy.
Hmmm, I guess that I am the reason it works so well. Then I guess in a round about way I am the best flintlock. I better watch out or Dogshirt will use me to tighten up his fences.   

[Patocazador]

Hmmm, I guess that I am the reason it works so well. Then I guess in a round about way I am the best flintlock.

Hmmmm  , I don't recall seeing your name at the top of the target shooters' list. 

[Cranbrook]

One of the very first flintlock rifles I ever owned was one I bought sight unseen over the early internet.  A fellow told this poor kid he had a flinter he would sell me for 150 dollars!  I could not get to the drug store quick enough to buy a money order!!

When it arrived, it looked like a pipe stuck in a straight pine wood 2 x 4 with a lock that must have been homemade.  I took it out to the range for testing and that darn old gun shot dead center just about every time I did my part!

I took it apart for a thorough cleaning and found it's one redemptive feature. A G.R. Douglass XXX barrel!

And yes, I do often regret letting that ugly thing go, as it would today win photo awards for the worst looking flintlock rifle on the planet!