What is the difference between the English and Germanic locks? My Early Virginia has a Chambers English lock, and it is round-faced; is that the major or only difference between the two? Another rifle I have has a small Siler--I guess that is a Germanic lock? And were the English locks used primarily by builders from the southern colonies, and Germanic locks by Pennsylvania builders? And what type of lock is that one with the rounded tail on my Pedersoli Kentucky?
-
Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight.
We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.
Use this link to sign up please; https://membership.nra.org/recruiters/join/XR045103
English vs. Germanic Locks
- Thread starter Flint1
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
Stophel
75 Cal.
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2005
- Messages
- 5,963
- Reaction score
- 869
There are a LOT of round faced German locks. In fact, though round faces become less common on English locks towards the end of the 18th century, they become MORE common on German locks! Very rarely, however, were round faced German locks imported to America. The shaping is more difficult, and they seemed to reserve these locks for themselves, sending us pretty much all flat faced locks. There are a few known exceptions. Shumway's "gun #15" has a German round faced lock, as does the companion smoothbore that is similarly styled.
The differences are in style. You just have to look at guns and locks to really learn the differences. I can recognize the differences immediately, but that's just me.
The differences are in style. You just have to look at guns and locks to really learn the differences. I can recognize the differences immediately, but that's just me.
Chris, good to have you on board here.
I agree, it's hard to make generalizations, given that flintlocks were probably used on Americam arms for over 200 years and included imported pieces from Britain, the European continent, and some made here.
Dutch locks of the early to mid 18th century were often rounded and may have influenced the development of the round-faced locks used on the Brown Bess models.
With more and more models of excellent "made" locks available from Chamber, Davis, Caywood, L&R, etc, and more offerings as castings, we now have lots to choose from. In the old days, yes, of what was available for us to use, flat and faceted was Germanic and rounded was English, and ne'er the twain would meet.
I agree, it's hard to make generalizations, given that flintlocks were probably used on Americam arms for over 200 years and included imported pieces from Britain, the European continent, and some made here.
Dutch locks of the early to mid 18th century were often rounded and may have influenced the development of the round-faced locks used on the Brown Bess models.
With more and more models of excellent "made" locks available from Chamber, Davis, Caywood, L&R, etc, and more offerings as castings, we now have lots to choose from. In the old days, yes, of what was available for us to use, flat and faceted was Germanic and rounded was English, and ne'er the twain would meet.
Similar threads
- Locked
