roundball said:
GENERAL OBSERVATION
Its amazing how often a simple thread on the MLF like this...a valid question about "inexpensive flintlocks"...gets the custom muzzleloader mentality driven into it as a wedge, causing it to degenerate like this...happens all the time.
I'm probably pissing into the wind with this post, but that has never stopped me.
The original comments were not about production guns, in general, but the quality issues with "inexpensive" flint guns.
Mr.Brooks, merely stated that the cheap,aka "inexpensive" production guns often have safety issues, in addition to issues with fit and finish.
I have seen, and helped others work through those safety issues with unhardened lock internals that have caused more than one AD. More than several of these cheap guns needed more than simple "tweeking" to make 'em work safely and reliably.
Some of the locks weren't worth "tweeking" because of poor design and workmanship. The issue is NOT necessarily about production guns, but serious quality issues with "inexpensive" pieces.
There are relatively good quality production guns on the market. I, and others, have repeatedly recommended those higher quality production guns, but those recommendations have, apparently, been ignored by the promoters of the cheap production guns.
If all of your "inexpensive" production guns are so great, why do so many buyers replace their lock with L&R replacement locks? For that matter, if L&R didn't sell so many replacement locks, they wouldn't even consider making them.
Yeah, you proponents of the "inexpensive" guns can buy a cheap gun that almost requires a replacement lock..and spend as much as a higher quality piece, in the process of making it work reliably.
I realize that many who post here have never had a decent quality gun in their hands, in the six months, or so they have been in this hobby, but feel qualified to expound on the high quality of their particular piece.
Those of us who have been in the hobby for 30-40 years, or more, have a
LOT of experience with all sorts of production, semi custom and full custom pieces. IMHO, without that experience, no one can possibly imagine the issues with cheap, not as cheap, and even expensive guns, that us old Grey beards have seen or dealt with.
IMHO, Mr.Brooks and the other full time builders that frequent this forum...or used to frequent this forum, have seen so much junk out there that they may be a little jaded. However, they probably have forgotten more about the hobby than most of the posters on these forums have ever learned, and their opinions are dismissed as "elitist" BS because they offer honest opinions, based on REAL TIME experience in all aspects of the hobby.
To be honest, I sometimes wonder why I waste my time posting on this forum. Most of the readers seem to have there minds made up when they ask a question. They don't seem to want to hear the truth about their guns/gear/clothing, based on research, but instead seem to want verification of their own guns/gear/clothing based on wishful thinking and so called "common knowledge"...and we get bashed for sharing our years, often 20-40 years of hard work and research.
Well folks, I'm about fed up. Like Mr. Brooks, I call him that because I respect his knowledge and his desire to share, I'm about ready to give up on a forum of people whose vision only extends to the end of their nose.I'm done with those folks who bash anyone who is willing to offer their years of hard work and experience to newbies who often seem to want someone else to do their research for them, them complain when actual research doesn't conform with their concept of what is.
