Busted Dean Mitton Lock . . . or not, help please?

[Nad Reese]

Greetings! I just purchased a Dean Mitton flint lock on eBay.
It arrived and upon inspection I see that the backing plate is cracked . . .
In the eBay pictures it just looked like a scratch, but I see now that it is a crack all the way through the back of the plate.
I am somewhat new to muzzleloader construction and I need to know . . .

1. In the first place, is a Dean Mitton lock a good lock?
2. Is this going to affect the serviceability of the lock?
2. Is this lock dangerous (to the shooter and others)?
3. Should I try to get my money back from the seller?


I think I know the answers, but I want gauge the forum’s opinion . . . it will also give me a leg to stand on . . .
Respectfully . . . Nad Reese

 

[waarp8nt]

Simplest solution would be to get your money back, if the seller refuses to give your money back you can always get eBay involved.

 

[Colonial Boy]

Nad,
What does it look like from the inside, it could be a casting mark?

 

[Britsmoothy]

Nothing a good tig welder couldn't fix.

 

[dave_person]

Hi Nad,
I am not familiar with Mitton locks although he was a maker going back to the 1970s I believe. I'd have to see the inside of the lock to judge the geometry but I suspect he used Siler internal parts. Does the crack show on the inside of the plate? If it runs all the way through, it is not just a casting flaw and either the plate needs to be replaced or the crack welded up. The lock is not unsafe necessarily but the lock plate could break into 2 pieces when removed from the mortise and should be replaced or fixed. If it is all the way through I suspect it was created by poor heat treating methods.

dave

 

[Nad Reese]

Here are some additional images from the inside.
As you can see the plate has a mark on the inside too (sorry the picture is not better).
I can;t disassemble the lock, because I don't have the tools to reassemble it . . . and now that I see it better, up close, maybe it is a casing mark . . . although I could swear when I tried to bend the plate it looked like the crack opened up . . . maybe my imagination . . .
The set-up seems like a Siler (I don't have one on-hand to compare) and it pretty much drops into a mortise for a large Siler.
Thanks . . . Nad Reese

 

[deerstalkert]

casting mark or open crack it is a weak point between the main spring and the tumbler. i wouldn't trust it

 

[dave_person]

Hi Nad,
That crack is definitely suspect. I also understand that Mitton took over Russ Hamm's lock business and those internals are definitely not Silers. I am not impressed at all with what I see. There is no attempt to finish the parts, which look like they come right out of the mold. If I was buying the lock, I would look at the crack and figure I could weld it in a few minutes but what would really turn me off is that lock requires 20-30 hours of skilled work just to bring it up to a standard of fit and finish even remotely like a Chambers Siler lock. Unless you have the tools and skill to do that work, I would return it for a refund.

dave

 

[Britsmoothy]

Think I would just crack on with it.

I mean it does not actually look broken really.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Lot of pain getting it to where you need it. Send it back.

 

[necchi]

,,That crack is definitely suspect.
,,I am not impressed at all with what I see. There is no attempt to finish the parts, which look like they come right out of the mold.
,,that lock requires 20-30 hours of skilled work just to bring it up to a standard of fit and finish even remotely like a Chambers Siler lock,
"I would return it for a refund."

Sage advice from @dave_person , I completely agree.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Greetings! I just purchased a Dean Mitton flint lock on eBay.
It arrived and upon inspection I see that the backing plate is cracked . . .
In the eBay pictures it just looked like a scratch, but I see now that it is a crack all the way through the back of the plate.
I am somewhat new to muzzleloader construction and I need to know . . .

1. In the first place, is a Dean Mitton lock a good lock?
2. Is this going to affect the serviceability of the lock?
2. Is this lock dangerous (to the shooter and others)?
3. Should I try to get my money back from the seller?


I think I know the answers, but I want gauge the forum’s opinion . . . it will also give me a leg to stand on . . .
Respectfully . . . Nad Reese

Cosmetically is stinks! Structurally it still stinks.
Larry

 

[EC121]

Even if it was in one piece, I wouldn't use it. Mitton locks were second level locks. They worked and were usable, but that is about it.

 

[deerstalkert]

just went back and looked better at the internals. the axle race in the bridle is atrocious. if it corresponds to like tolerances in the plate the cock may not ever hit the frizzen square!

 

[Tenring]

There are casting marks and seams like that all over the lock, you are fine I would just use it. Even if you think it’s a weak point because of the location I doubt in a million years it’s going to crack and even if it did it’s not like it’s the breach of the barrel, your fine..

 

[44-henry]

Ebay is not the best to sell with anymore, but pretty good for buyers. In short, with the photos you have it will not be difficult to get your money back including shipping. Ask the seller nicely to return the item due to the purchased item having a defect that was not described. If they refuse Ebay will step in and force the return. In legitimate cases like yours this is a good thing, but there is an awful lot of fraud out there and Ebay generally does not have their seller's backs.

 

[curly]

I bought an old Bedford county rifle that has a Dean Mitton lock,after I got it finished,I cannot get enough spark off the frizzen to lite the powder,not sure what I can do now