I was at the range this morning to shoot my flintlock. A couple of folks were already there, one with a flintlock, and the other with a very interesting percussion. I've never seen anything like it.
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Interesting percussion rifle.
- Thread starter crgator
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DOUBLEDEUCE 1
69 Cal.
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Anymore photos ? Very interesting looking. 
No, I was on my way out, when I thought about getting a couple of shots. I should have taken my time and gotten more of the rifle, and of different angles. But, I needed to get on the road so just snapped a couple of the lock.Anymore photos ? Very interesting looking.
I did some google searches to see if I could find a similar lock. I think I found it. It's a mule ear. Ver interesting.
The owner said he built it. He said he's been building muzzleloaders since 1959. It was an awesome rifle, very well made.
Just when I think I have seen everything. I guess I havent. Thank you for showing
Navy Arms made some as did a few others , on and off. Very positive ignition as the fire goes directly into the barrel. Several over/unders were manufactured - rifle/shotgun, double shotguns, etc. The idea's not new.
Dale Storey made Mule Ear rifles that were of very high quality. I have a Pioneer Arms mule ear lock that I installed on a Lyman Great Plains Flint lock gun. It makes the gun convertible from percussion to flint just by changing the lock.
Navy Arms had Pedersoli build a hawken mule ear 25 or 30 years ago. Had one - a tack driver but the metal used in the barrel came from fiats and was extremely soft and super prone to rusting no matter how much you tried to prevent it.
rdane
40 Cal
L&R still makes a mule ear lock.
ronaldrothb49
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About 40 years back I built a rifle using a lock like that for light bench and cross stick matches. Won a lot of matches with it. Very fast ignition. Still have one of those locks in my parts collection, May someday get around to making another rifle out of it.
called a MULE EAR or a SIDE SLAPPER. a great gun, some do not have a half cock and can get hung up in brush when moving through it. toot.
ronaldrothb49
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Actually very simple to use. True some don't have a half cock but a short piece of ramrod between the plate and hammer with a string attached will serve as a half cock. it simply falls out when you go to full cock. Super fast ignition. Plus safer you don't have to worry about pieces of the cap coming back at your face.
SamTex1949
32 Cal.
It would be interesting to see more of his work ! next time if you encounter him invite him over to here !
DuncNZ
54 Cal.
They have the same advantage as the under hammer , the flash goes straight into the powder charge , no corners to turn , and no flash in your face .I prefer the under hammer , I wonder about that sticky out hammer getting hung up on branches when hunting , still it a very simple lock and it does work very well .
Yes, those Dale Storey mule ear rifles were profiled in a book Sam Fadala and Dale Storey co-wrote. Wish I had one of those guns as they were excellently crafted guns. I, like you, was fortunate to obtain a Pioneer Arms mule ear and mate it to a GPR flinter. Fast ignition. Love that gun. Unfortunately, Pioneer Arms is no longer making the locks. May have been a liability issue as there’s no half cock on them. Just need to be aware of this when handling and shooting one is all.
