lock maker identity?

[buffler]

:hmm: Just bought a .36 (approx) cal sidelock. There is no maker's name on the bbl or otherwise. The barrel is turned down to round at the muzzle for a shortstarter, and the tang is tapped for a post rear target sight.
The interior of the lock is stamped F A Co and No. 4. The 4 is a larger font than the letters.
Strange because there is no other lettering, such as so-and-so F A co. It's definitely not a Frankford Arsenal military, too small, also definitely for a set trigger.
This is a nice puzzle. Anyone out there got a hint?
BTW, the muzzle is chamfered to facilitate starting, and the bbl is choked for the first 3 in. or so, only a few thousandths. Also, the lands (four) are very wide, and the grooves very narrow.
Thanks,
Don

 

[hoochiepapa]

hotoSmile:

 

[buffler]

Hi Mike: I know I'm gonna get flamed as a whiner etc etc, but it's just too cumbersome and tedious to add a couple of photos. Should be able to just drop 'em in, or add 'em with a simple browse, just like an email image. I gotta join some photo thingy, which I'll forget, then upload a couple of simple photos, then get the url, then paste it in to the forum and so on in endless messing around, leaving a couple of photos behind in the photo thingy, which I won't use again for three years. I fully realize I'm being a spoiled child, but I'll bet this whine has been articulated a great number of times, just read some on the forum, and I'll bet a lot of interesting stuff has just gone by the wayside, too.
Thanks.
Don

 

[rafterob]

Often manufacturer names are on the underside of the barrel. Try taking out to see if there is any info there. Sounds like it is from the final period of percussion muzzleloaders and most likely intended for cylindro-conoidal bullets. Many of these rifles were dual purpose sporting-target rifles.

 

[mjulihn]

Posting a photo can be a bit cumbersome. Perhaps you can PM a pic to a fellow forum member who can post it for you.

 

[buffler]

Nothing there, Ghettogun. It's very probable that it is a boughten lock and set trigger. Twist is about 1 in 46 inches, right for a conoidal as you point out. I'm getting some roundballs to see how they go.
Don

 

[buffler]

Here are a couple of photos, provided I can get them here :wink:

awesome.
Any theories?
Don

 

[reddog]

From what I can see it looks a lot like my L+R,,,but I wouldn't take that to the the bank.