L R lock

[smokepole tc]

opinions on L R locks pro s and cons Thanks

 

[wattlebuster]

I can not comment on a lock I've never had but I can say I read enough bad things on them that if its my money I will buy a chambers or caywood every time. Just my opinion though your mileage may vary :thumbsup:

 

[Zonie]

The L&R Flintlocks I've bought are good locks but they were bought before 2000.

There was a period of time following that year when their quality went downhill and several people who bought their L&R locks during that period were understandably upset. I think this period was around 2002-2006???

I believe they have corrected the quality issues with their latest production.

The only thing I don't like about the L&R locks I have is the design of the fly.
It is a very small thin plate that fits over a post that is cast into the tumbler and it can be installed upside down.
If that happens, it won't work as a fly so the lock won't work with double set triggers.

It's easily fixed by turning the fly over and putting it back on the post but if they used the Chambers Siler design the lock would be easier to work on.

 

[Stophel]

L&R has some really good designs (and some not so great). I also don't like the tiny fly. The biggest objections I have are that the tumbler is cast to final size (no turning or fitting at all) and the hole in the plate is cast to final size, so the tumbler goes in with no fitting. Granted, it makes things easier for them, but it makes me cringe. Also, tumblers and sears tend to be too soft, but that's something I can fix easily.

 

[Flint311]

I have the Durrs Egg lock from L & R. It seems to work fine. I haven't been shooting as much, so there's only a couple hundred shots with it. Only trouble I've had, I caused :redface: broken main spring.

 

[William O.]

I have one and it's been trouble free, functions well and looks good on my plains rifle. However, if I were to have another built from the ground up it would have a Chambers lock.

 

[Billnpatti]

I've had L&R locks on a couple of my rifles and they were fine locks. I don't know when they were made. I have also had a couple Chambers locks and they were very nice locks. Actually, I think I preferred the Chambers locks. Their actions seemed to be a bit smoother. I never had any trouble with either lock, though.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I have one on my trade gun and it works fine. But it definitely was pre 2000. :idunno:

 

[lhw123]

Got an L&R Queen Anne lock. So far so good.

 

[bpd303]

I have a Hatfield .45 with a 1988 proofed barrel and I understand they used L&R locks. When I got the rifle the set trigger would not trip the sear. Thought I would have to replace the lock & L&R still has them listed. After much tinkering I found out someone had bent the lock bolt at the threads so when installed the lock was tilted increasing the clearance between trigger & sear. Straightened the bolt and the lock works flawlessly now.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I have an L&R Classic that is with a build ten years "in progress". It is a fantastic sparker, inside finish is beautiful.
My fowler has an L&R Old English that is a very reliable performer.
I'm happy with both.
On the flip side, I have a Davis Jaeger that is one of the worst locks I have ever had the displeasure of trying to use. I put it below the quality of many of the El Cheapo imports.
But, those on this forum seem to prefer the Davis locks overwhelmingly over the L&Rs. Go figger.

 

[Grandpa Ron]

I have an L&R lock in my 20 ga. smoothbore and have taken two turkeys with it. That said, the main spring is weaker when compared to my 1970’s vintage Siler and my recently acquired Davis lock.

As a result I think the lock time is a bit slower and the lock motion is definitely more noticeable.

When turkey hunting, the lock motion is not an issue, but when skeet shooting the “Klatch” of the mechanism certainly stands out.

I would categorize my L&R lock as reliable but noisy

 

[jdkerstetter]

I have a Hatfield .45 with a 1988 proofed barrel and I understand they used L&R locks....& L&R still has them listed....

Use extra care when ordering a lock or parts for a Hatfield. Some of them used L&R locks, before they started using parts imported from Pedersoli, and eventual import of the whole gun.

Since the U.S. has no proof requirements, when you say "proofed" barrel that leads me to believe that it has Italian proof marks, in which case it is an import gun and doesn't use an L&R lock.

The Hatfield/Blue Ridge/Frontier lock from L&R (RPL-06-F Flint Lock) is a fairly new offering from them and is meant to replace the Pedersoli locks on these guns, but the parts are not interchangeable with them.

The Italian locks are big and easy to identify as they are a full 5 5/8" long, a full 1/4" longer than L&R's Classic that I've seen on published early Hatfields....even too long to replace with Chambers Gunmaker's lock.

Just measure your lock plate before you go ordering anything for it to determine who made it. Or if it has Italian proofs, don't bother, it's Pedersoli....but just because a Hatfield barrel has no proofs doesn't mean it's not Pedersoli and automatically L&R. Confusing, isn't it?

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[Rusty_Nail]

Clear as Mud J.D. :rotf:

 

[hanshi]

Never had one but do know a couple of guys who have L&Rs on their rifles. I fired one of them a few times and was impressed with the lock as it worked as well as my Chambers.

 

[bpd303]

Thanks J.D. I knew the barrel was an import but didn't know about the lock. I just measured mine & it's 5 5/8 Good to know if I ever need parts.

 

[jdkerstetter]

No problem Randy. I did all the research already...or at least as much as I could...so, might as well share. Enjoy, J.D.

 

[Spikebuck]

Have a Queen Anne on my smoothie. Do not know how old it is, but my first impression was that instead of springs they used rubber bands. W-e-a-k! Very hard to get any consistent sparking no matter how the flint was set.

Sent it to Brad Emig at Cabin Creek and it came back in good working order. He had to re-carburize the frizzen twice...he mentioned the frizzens have steel (chrome) that doesn't like to harden properly (don't quote me on that)? He has had to re-work the cock to get a good strike angle and a "normal" tune-up of the internals. The springs are still weak, but it works.

Have had three Davis locks, love them all. Sparking these in the dark is a sight to behold compared to the L&R, even after it was re-worked.

 

[okawbow]

I got a Bedford Co. flintlock from L&R this spring. It works like it should and sparks well with just about any old rock I put in the jaws. Well worth the money

 

[Rokon]

I have a Bedford L&R lock and the cock is not square to the frizzen. Called L&R and asked if I could send it in to be repaired. They said it was impossible to repair because the Bedford County lock they copied had that exact same fault!!!!!!