How often do you guys take apart and oil your locks?

[M. De Land]

Seems to be. I always find a lot of black soot-like crud inside the lock each time I shoot it.

The joint between the back of the pan and the barrel should be as tight as possible but it is only a contact joint and is not air or water tight hence fouling does work past it from the exploding powder in the pan. The tighter the joint the better but eventually fouling gets past and needs cleaned out.

 

[user 34300]

I do not see and issue with removing the lock and cleaning the lock and barrel. It depends on the gun too. The lock fit should be loose enough to make removing the lock without undue force.

The joint between the pan and barrel should be as close to 100% contact as possible. A dab of grease in the joint should make it water and fouling resistant.

I think the original question was about disassembling the lock, which is overkill. You will loosen he hammer to tumbler fit. The screws will get buggared. The fly will get lost.