L&R Queen Anne lock

[Erzulis boat]

Not bashing, but I have used quite a few Davis, Siler and TRS (built myself from castings) and a singular L&R lock years ago.

Anyway, I remember being a little disappointed in the quality as to component fit. I had to "fix" quite a few little things if I recall correctly.

Maybe I got a "bad" one, but is the general consensus that L&R makes a satisfactory lock nowadays?

 

[Eric Krewson]

I bought an L&R RPL lock for a TC, the first one had a casting flaw in the lock plate and should have never been shipped that way.

L&R replaced that lock with a new one quickly and sent me another with the tumbler shaft sticking so far through the lock plate that the hammer stop (flintlock) barely contacted the edge of the lock plate causing it to flair the metal.

I sent this lock back and they repaired the hammer fit but... They ground a bur on the shaft elongating the square portion for the hammer to rest on and using some kind of press fit tool forced the tumbler shaft bur and all through the lock plate. When I got the lock back and disassembled it for inletting I couldn't turn the tumbler shaft in the lock plate. A quick check exposed the bur which I filed off. A little time with crocus cloth and polishing compound and I had had the lock back in service operating correctly.

This was a sloppy repair on their part and left a bad taste in my mouth. $175 for the lock and two trips to the post office brought the price of my lock to over $200.

I am going to stick with Chambers from now on.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I have an L&R Classic (improved Siler) that is beautifully finished inside and a sparking monster. No complaints here.
Have a Davis Jaeger. Real El Stinko, huge dissapointment as was company service.

 

[Zonie]

There was a time, maybe 15 or 20 years ago that the L&R lock company seemed to forget about quality.

During that period they produced some pretty crappy locks and word got out about them on the net.

This issue and the falling off of their lock sales got their attention and they made a great turn around and fixed their problems.

Yes, there are still a few locks that get sold with some flaws in them but this can also be said about Davis and Chambers locks. Once in a while a bad apple will sneak thru.

 

[Eric Krewson]

It is all about QC, the flaws in my locks were very obvious. I have only worked on 4 locks in my short gun building journey and spotted the flaws in the RPL immediately. Guys who make thousands of locks should have a keener eye than mine.

I bought the lock in question around 4 months ago.

 

[WVAED]

I bought a L & R classic lock at The Log Cabin Shop in Lodi, OH a few months back. The gentlemen there who is also a builder spoke well of them. I like to lock. There is a little imperfection in the casting underneath where the frizzen is attached, no bigger than an 1/16 on an inch. i tried to file it out but it is kind of deep. I don't think it will be seen when the lock is assembled on the rifle.

 

[Larry Akers]

I have used quite a few L&R locks over the years and have been very satisfied with them. They have styles that aren't available elsewhere. With locks in general, I consider any lock I buy as an assembled kit that is going to need some "smithing".

 

[Jumpshot]

I bought an L&R RPL lock for a TC...

Except for the problems you experienced, was the new lock an improvement over the factory lock?

 

[rich pierce]

I've had locks I would not let out of the shop from all the major makers. I've had some great ones too. Best to buy locks at a gun show if possible.

Small sample but my recent Davis lock purchases have been excellent sparkers. Up there with any. Their round faces English lock really impressed me. It's supposed to be based on a generic export quality lock but it's better than the originals probably were.

 

[Rifleman1776]

It is all about QC

From my conversations with the Davis people I learned they simply have no quality control. Their excuse for my sorry lock (they admitted it but would not exchange) was that the guy who did their casting used "the wrong powder". But they let him send to the assemblers anyway. Davis only takes orders and drop ships to the customer.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I can only assume the RPL lock was better, it sparked well. I put a Renegade together from random scrounged parts. It was cheaper to buy a RPL lock than to buy a TC lock off eBay. I must emphasise there was no "drop-in" to using this lock, it took me a week to get everything in place and working.

A friend saw the pictures I posted of the gun and bought it. I never shot the gun and he won't either, he just collects them.

 

[wattlebuster]

If I say what I want to say I will be called a basher of some sort so let me tell you this. Do your own research. Look into the old threads on this an other forums about lock problems such as no sparks or soft frizzens or any problem at all an if you will then do the math there will be one lock company that stands out far ahead of the rest for sending out locks that have to be worked on or sent back to the factory to be fixed so they can be used. Some will say "Oh they fixed it an sent it right back. Thats excellent service" well it should not have needed service to begin with. If you pay for a new lock it should be a new working lock. Remember look for yourself an just keep a mental tally on the lock brand that needs sent back an I dont think you will have any doubt which company ranks number one new lock with problems position. When I see a new thread thats headlined lock not doing as it should I know which one it is before I even read any further. How they stay in business is beyond me an if I were buying a rifle an saw it had that brand lock in it then it would be the deal breaker for me. That of course is my opinion so RESEARCH an draw your own opinion

 

[rich pierce]

Some makers get a pass. If their lock malfunctions folks say, send it back, great customer service, they will make it right! With another maker, same situation, folks say, it never should have left the shop.

 

[wattlebuster]

There is no excuse for poor quality control. Giving a pass for poor performance is just saying go ahead an send it out however you want an your forgiven. I dont mind paying for a lock an shipping to get it here. I only ask that it work right an spark when I pull the trigger. If it dont then its not good for anything an I have no use for it. A bad lock makes the whole gun bad.

 

[Eric Krewson]

Here is what I suspect; The people here are for the most part experienced builders to some degree, we have a thirst for knowledge and never stop learning about our craft.

John Q public may make one gun and no matter how bad it is he will think it is a Rembrandt. He probably doesn't know good from bad and will accept any part he buys as OK.

I suspect some of the parts suppliers ship whatever they have in stock and only get stuff back from us guys. They take a gamble on their less than quality stuff being accepted without question.

I got a barrel drilled off center once I didn't catch it right away, it was replaced generously when I brought it to the makers attention.

They said they had a worn out part on their barrel turning equipment and thought they caught all the defective barrels but mine must have slipped through the cracks. Could be, had I not been a little experienced I never would have caught the flaw.

 

[ZUG]

Funny you should bring this topic up -- I just made a new plate & bridle for this percussion lock because the original bridle was binding and the plate was not flat

 

[jerrywh]

I have used a lot of L$R locks over the years. Most of them I had to work on but I was glad to get the locks because of the appearance and style. Most of the work was heat treating. Most of their internals were too hard and had a tendency to break. I just re tempered them.

 

[wattlebuster]

Then it should have never left the maker till right. If you could see it needed work then the maker could see it needed more work :shake:

 

[wattlebuster]

I have used a lot of L$R locks over the years. Most of them I had to work on but I was glad to get the locks because of the appearance and style. Most of the work was heat treating. Most of their internals were too hard and had a tendency to break. I just re tempered them.

That speaks volumes right there.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Most of the better builders that have used say an L&R "queen anne" (she long since rotted at the time frame of that lock) forged new springs, re-carborized the hammer, welded the tumbler hole and re-reamed, etc.