Flies & mainsprings

[tom in nc]

Handling and examining locks more in the past couple of weeks than ever before, I'm amazed at how gunmakers of olde were able to make the flies and put the "notches" in the end of mainsprings for them. I can imagine myself, and a helper creating a barrel from flat steel, or even making screws, but a part as small as a fly, WOW. And I realize that not all locks have a fly. I wonder if including flies became common after locks were being made from machined parts?

 

[ronaldrothb49]

View attachment 239114
Handling and examining locks more in the past couple of weeks than ever before, I'm amazed at how gunmakers of olde were able to make the flies and put the "notches" in the end of mainsprings for them. I can imagine myself, and a helper creating a barrel from flat steel, or even making screws, but a part as small as a fly, WOW. And I realize that not all locks have a fly. I wonder if including flies became common after locks were being made from machined parts?

The part you are referring to is a stirrup. The fly is an even smaller part that fits into a notch cut into the tumbler

 

[TDM]

And the "notch" cuts in the tumbler are called Bents. Just learned that recently.

 

[ZUG]

Nice picture

 

[ronaldrothb49]

And the "notch" cuts in the tumbler are called Bents. Just learned that recently.

I didn't know that had a name. proves you are never to old to learn something new.

 

[TDM]

I didn't know that had a name. proves you are never to old to learn something new.

Feel the same way here.

 

[Tweeter and the MonkeyMan]

View attachment 239114
Handling and examining locks more in the past couple of weeks than ever before, I'm amazed at how gunmakers of olde were able to make the flies and put the "notches" in the end of mainsprings for them. I can imagine myself, and a helper creating a barrel from flat steel, or even making screws, but a part as small as a fly, WOW. And I realize that not all locks have a fly. I wonder if including flies became common after locks were being made from machined parts?

Check out Wallace Gusler's Colonial Williamsburg Gunsmithing Video from 1969. He explains a lot about gunsmithing in colonial times.

 

[deerstalkert]

View attachment 239114
Handling and examining locks more in the past couple of weeks than ever before, I'm amazed at how gunmakers of olde were able to make the flies and put the "notches" in the end of mainsprings for them. I can imagine myself, and a helper creating a barrel from flat steel, or even making screws, but a part as small as a fly, WOW. And I realize that not all locks have a fly. I wonder if including flies became common after locks were being made from machined parts?

someone must have cut the wings off, but that looks like a fly just in front of the spring.
actually looks like one i had to make!

 

[Oldbear63]

Check out Wallace Gusler's Colonial Williamsburg Gunsmithing Video from 1969. He explains a lot about gunsmithing in colonial times.

Thanks for that video! Wonderful!