Any tips or advice for making a lock from scratch?

[muzzleloadingat18]

I have 2 flinters and 8 years of black smithing under my belt so I feel I can definitely do it. I would love to hear some ideas and thoughts.

 

[springfield art]

I believe the House brothers and others make all of their parts, and Cabin Creek, too; they must have DVD's or videos if I recall seeing ads for educationals from them. Good luck!

 

[2 shots]

its all about geometry

 

[deerstalkert]

my thoughts are that every one that makes locks today had a first one. go for it.
i would find the finest lock out there and copy it.

 

[springfield art]

I never took too well to geometry in school, which is why I only buy "Fully Assembled"!

 

[ZUG]

First understand it is going to be a LOT of work. When I make the parts I do not use any blacksmithing tools or skills. All my parts are made using a metal lathe, milling machine, grinders, belt sanders, drill press, files, and a variety of tap & dies, drill bits and reamers. A good selection of measuring and marking tools are a must. Good luck ---

 

[russellshaffer]

my thoughts are that every one that makes locks today had a first one. go for it.
i would find the finest lock out there and copy it.

A really good idea. Don't invent the wheel, just change shapes on an existing design. Very good points about geometry - I made three very simple matchlocks before one worked right. And it was ugly.

 

[billraby]

I made a lock a few years ago. It worked good. Once you get about half way done with it the price for the commercially made locks starts to seem absurdly low.

 

[muzzleloadingat18]

I made a lock a few years ago. It worked good. Once you get about half way done with it the price for the commercially made locks starts to seem absurdly low.

I have everything I could possibly need to make one so cost is no issue. I have plenty of spring steel high carbon and low carbon.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Excellent!

 

[muzzleloadingat18]

I have 2 flinters and 8 years of black smithing under my belt so I feel I can definitely do it. I would love to hear some ideas and thoughts.

I also want to add they have been making flinters for hundreds of years now so I think it is very do able with modern tools. But I am going to use forging and filling for as much as possible mostly because I love the thought of doing it the way they did 200 years ago

 

[russellshaffer]

I also want to add they have been making flinters for hundreds of years now so I think it is very do able with modern tools. But I am going to use forging and filling for as much as possible mostly because I love the thought of doing it the way they did 200 years ago

So what you are saying is that you are going to do this for fun and to prove that you can do it. Go for it and enjoy yourself and the feeling of acomplishment you will get. Not everyone can build a flintlock.

 

[muzzleloadingat18]

So what you are saying is that you are going to do this for fun and to prove that you can do it. Go for it and enjoy yourself and the feeling of acomplishment you will get. Not everyone can build a flintlock.

After this endeavor I think I'll look into forging a barrel im not too sure ur that though.

 

[William Lincoln]

Someone had to be the first at building/making everything.
You can do it. Also the skills you acquire will be useable for making other neat gun stuff.

 

[muzzleloadingat18]

Someone had to be the first at building/making everything.
You can do it. Also the skills you acquire will be useable for making other neat gun stuff.

Very true

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

If you haven't already watch The Gunsmith of Williamsburg.

 

[IanH]

Bob Roller and others have a lot of information and photos of lockmaking on the ALR forum. Forged entirely from wagon tires, hinges, and filed to shape by hand. Even tumblers turned with handmade lathes that look like a stock for a threading die. THAT is how they did it. When working with wrought, the grain structure matters and the **** and frizzen have to be forged accordingly. Pans are forge-welded on. If you're using cold-roll and maybe some 1075, grain direction doesn't matter.

I will be making the lock for my next build from scratch, right after I get the barrel drilled, reamed, rifled, and profiled. I will be forging the ****, frizzen, and springs, but the rest of it will be done on the lathes and mill and finished with files. I would happily buy a lock but nobody seems to make a left-handed Durs Egg that's any good.

 

[ZUG]

Years ago, Steve Bookout had written some paperback books on forging gun barrels. If you can find a copy it will be of great help. I purchased one and he signed it for me. I found this little article on him that you might find interesting:
<Bookout explores his passion for gunsmithing in Toad Hall>
He called his shop "Toad Hall Rifleshop and Yellar Tom Cat Forge"

 

[James Kibler]

Get a really good original lock to copy. Then it’s just up to your metal working ability.

 

[Billy Boy]

I have 2 flinters and 8 years of black smithing under my belt so I feel I can definitely do it. I would love to hear some ideas and thoughts.

Pattern it after the best internals you can get. Get the best files, stones, and measuring instruments known to modern man, then take your time, take your time, take your time….