During the renaissance of MLing, lockmakers came and went and most were junky till Bud Siler made his flintlocks. he chose a basic germanic styled flintlock appropriate for 1770-1800 or so, which was the "Golden Age" and useful for most guns folks were making then: American longrifles. Tooling is expensive. The Siler developed such a following that it starteds to be used where it should not be used- later timeframes and places where English locks were more appropriate. And the Siler percusion locks had the same appearance but were percussed, rather than looking like locks made during the percussion period. Tooling is expensive.
In the late 1970's, L&R came on the market and offered dozens of styles of locks, and we were all delighted and still are. Then Davis started making a few locks like the Tulle and jaeger locks. Often makers would take a custom or original lock someone had, and develop castings from it and call it whatever they wanted to. The Davis jaeger and Tulle were available by 1980. Then later Chambers bought out Siler and then started introducing his own locks and continues to do so today. As a very general statement he uses the best and most appropriate styles. Why no French lock when we have everything else?
The interest in the "tulle" (I used that word to goad Okwaho who is actually my friend) and other French smoothbores used in America started in the early 80's and is still swelling. But I don't think it interests Chambers at all. These guys all LOVE what they do and what they do is get excited about something then do it. Chambers is a man who most dearly loves the early longrifle and English stuff, from what I can discern.
What it takes (all it takes) is one person making a cock and plate and frizzen and pan that fits one style of French lock and mating it to existing internals and marketing it. Here's the rub. Will it really sell better than what is out there already? What if it only fits one era or style? Meanwhile you can buy and modify an existing lock or you can order a kit or assembled lock ($250 or so) from The Rifle Shoppe and hope you getit before you forget about the project.
if you want it, build it. There was a day when we had nothing but rocks and logs. Just kidding. We walked to our shops uphill in the snow both ways too.
