Lock Finish on Original Guns

[doccarver]

Back in the 18th and 19th century what finish would a gun maker use on the locks of their guns. Were they always browned or would they have been colour case hardened, polished bright or blued. I appreciate that it would depend on the gun maker however, they would tend to copy each other.

 

18th and 19th cent covers 200 years! The answer in that case is all of the above. Many early gunlocks were left bright polished metal, some were case hardened, some were blued and later some were browned. Can you be more specific as to your needs?

 

[rich pierce]

This is not a direct answer to your question, but case hardening was often done as the plates were made of wrought iron which would wear out in the tumbler hole. Sometimes left with color, sometimes polished afterward. Sometimes blued or browned as noted by Mike. But most often case hardened underneath.

Until 1770 or so, most locks would have been finished bright, or with the case hardening colors left in. If they acquired a browned finish during use, that was fine.

Even through the percussion period, color case hardening of locks was common. Same is true of many other parts on guns of the period. Not uncommon to have breechplugs case hardened, triggers, trigger plates, all case hardened. They often did not worry that everthing had to "match" (all iron browned, all bright, or all blued).

 

[doccarver]

Thanks for the replies. My question was just a general enquiry. I have custom-made copies of a Jacob Dickert and a J & S Hawken flintlock rifles and Leman and S Hawken percussion rifles. I was wondering if these rifles would have had colour case hardened locks when they were made. I have a Hatfield flintlock rifle in .36 cal with a colour case hardened lock and it looks good. The custom rifles have L&R locks and I was thinking of getting them case hardened.

 

[Bri in Chi]

Case-hardening can cause warping - which might make the parts not fit as before. Don't rush into this.