"Best" lock for a fowler???

[gunmaker43]

The Durs Egg and late English by L&R are very good locks with all the bells & whistles. Fast as any. I have the English on my .54 rifle oct-rd. bbl. and it looks and shoots very well---better'n me mostly...Tom

 

[Steve Lasley]

I have the L&R queen ann lock on my 62/20 fowler. No complaints at all.

 

[Skychief]

Thanks Steve. I take it that she goes off with very little delay. Correct?

 

[Steve Lasley]

It seems to be quick. I shot 20 rounds with 1 miss fire which was my fault. I didnt clean the flint or frizzen of fowling..

 

[Peter LeRay]

I'll put my 2 cents in. I have to say a Zornes lock from the M/G shop are super fast. I can consistently fire mine upside down.

 

[azmntman]

But why?

 

[Wes/Tex]

But why?

I do it just to get "that" look on teh face of them that say it can't be done! :wink:

 

[Peter LeRay]

To see the looks on peoples faces AND if the lock is a little slow the powder will fall out of the pan before it can get ignited

 

[John Strong]

Jim Chambers round face English lock or Colonial Va.

 

[Alden]

I'm kinda surprised Davis locks aren't being mentioned here as well -- I know there are fads, waves, internet parroting, but they are well regarded.
http://www.redaviscompany.com/locks.html

 

[oldarmy]

My fowlers have a few different locks on them. 2 have l&r round face queen Ann's. One have a Davis engraved fowler lock ( see tracks catalogs) the last has a Davis flat faced trade lock. They aii great locks never had any problems with sparking or relibilty. As far as speed. I don't have a high speed camera so I do t know which is fastest..My favorite is the engraved fowler it's a beautiful lock. L&R had some problems a few years ago but seem to have turned around and are making a fine product again. fowlers should not have siler style locks on them. Too bad they are great locks good luck with your build

 

[Skychief]

I'm resurrecting this thread from the dead.

Still hoping to hear opinions on the fastest (and reliable) flint locks suited to a fowler or trade gun build.

I'm wanting and needing the fast ignition for shooting offhand (roundballs). With slow/spotty ignition, you wouldn't want to be standing next to me as I shoot. :shake: :redface:

Thanks for any more feedback and experience you can send my way!

Best regards, Skychief.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Mr Skychief,

In my mind no doubts at all. most reliable are the Chambers r-faced English, Virginia, (same lock really) and his Early ketland.
Had a few Davis and never worked well.
Have a little L&R Durs Egg that sparks very well, and if you wanted a later fowling piece, this smaller lock would do. For an earlier time, the bigger locks I first mentioned are the bees knees.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Had a few Davis and never worked well.

My experience also. My L&R totaly reliable. Will find out about the highly reputed Chambers later this year. Some of the good old timers locks are no more. e.g. Roller, Haddaway, Siler kits, etc.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Still hoping to hear opinions on the fastest (and reliable) flint locks suited to a fowler or trade gun build.

I'm wanting and needing the fast ignition for shooting offhand (roundballs).

Get a trade lock from Danny Caywood! Preferably one built by Mike Rowe, as he as moved on, but I hear that his current locks are just as good!

I have 3, all built by Mike, and nothing else I’ve seen can touch them.

 

[smoothshooter]

A good lock, with a good flint and properly primed, will light up before the powder has a chance fall out of the pan when the gun is inverted.

The spring tension ratios between the hammer and frizzen springs need to be pretty clost to optimum also.
Others here can tell you what the ratios should be for sure, but I'm thinking it's something like frizzen spring tension to be about one third of hammer spring tension.

 

[akapennypincher]

I have a Caywood English Fowler type lock on my fowling piece and I think it is a fine lock.

Danny sell just "Locks", they work well.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Danny sell just "Locks", they work well.

With Mike "Kiwi" Rowe gone I have to wonder who makes them. :hmm: