Crooked gap between pan and barrel

[Florida airgunner]

Hi all

I'm in the process of rebuilding an Indian charleville musket and I've ran into the issue of a gap between the pan and barrel. It's flush on one side of the pan but gradually becomes less flush.

What's the best course of action to fix the issue?

I suspect the issue might have a little to do with a slanted bolster (I think that's what it's called), I'm not sure if it's supposed to be slanted or not or if it even matters.

Thanks kindly

ps please don't turn this thread into the cesspool of the safety and such of indian muskets and keep on topic

 

[bldtrailer]

I would pull the lock and use soot from a candle or marker on inside of pan area and reinstall the lock seeing what's rubbing and file/stone the high spots on the lock till fit is right( or offending wood)
I was told you always adjust the easiest (cheapest) part to replace

 

[BruceHH]

In this case it does look like the bolster is the culprit, but there could be an issue with the inletting also. You may be getting wood contact at one end keeping the plate from fully setting into the inlet. I would recommend using inlet black on the inside of the lock plate and the bolster to determine the early contact points.

 

[Florida airgunner]

In this case it does look like the bolster is the culprit, but there could be an issue with the inletting also. You may be getting wood contact at one end keeping the plate from fully setting into the inlet. I would recommend using inlet black on the inside of the lock plate and the bolster to determine the early contact points.

Yes I've been in the process of doing that. Is the bolster supposed to be slanted on a flintlock? Or was it just poor manufacturing

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Yes I've been in the process of doing that. Is the bolster supposed to be slanted on a flintlock? Or was it just poor manufacturing

I don't know (as a fact) if the bolster should intentionally be made slanted, but the top is where it needs to seal. Because of that fact, I am assuming it was intentional.
Larry

 

[Florida airgunner]

I just noticed the barrel is somewhat rotated a little and the flats aren't precisely straight up and down

 

[Florida airgunner]

I think I found the main issue. The pan is slightly crooked when seated in the bolster. You can see pretty well in this picture.

How should I go about fixing this?

 

[Florida airgunner]

Fixed the issue of a crooked pan by inletting the rear of the lock deeper. However there is still a gap at the bottom of the pan because of the tilted barrel, so I'll need to reinlet the barrel channel to fix the tilt.

 

[smo]

Could your lock plate be slightly bent holding the pan away from the barrel?

 

[Florida airgunner]

Could your lock plate be slightly bent holding the pan away from the barrel?

That could be a possibility yes