Lock Replacing

[krasnayaznamya]

Hello! I have a Short Land Pattern Brown Bess from the Discriminating General that I've had for a couple years now. No major issues, except that the lock is very hard (a flint breaker to say the least) and lately has not been the most reliable in terms of ignition.

What I'm wondering is whether I can put a replacement lock on it? Would it necessarily fit to put a different lock (complete) in place of the one already on there? How would I find out ahead of time?

Appreciate any help you could provide on this, I'm "firearm challenged" when it comes to these details! I don't want to spend money on a new lock if it ends up not fitting.

Thanx in advance for the help on this!!

 

[Roy]

Instead of replacing it, they are quite easy to re-work. :thumbsup:

 

[BEP]

Hello! I have a Short Land Pattern Brown Bess from the Discriminating General that I've had for a couple years now. No major issues, except that the lock is very hard (a flint breaker to say the least) and lately has not been the most reliable in terms of ignition.

What I'm wondering is whether I can put a replacement lock on it? Would it necessarily fit to put a different lock (complete) in place of the one already on there? How would I find out ahead of time?

Appreciate any help you could provide on this, I'm "firearm challenged" when it comes to these details! I don't want to spend money on a new lock if it ends up not fitting.

Thanx in advance for the help on this!!

Is the frizzen face smooth or rough? The reason that I ask - we bought our reenactor son a Bess from the General and the only thing that I wasn't happy with was the frizzen face. It should be smooth but was really rough - almost as cast - so I ground and polished it smooth. Figuring that I'd removed the casehardening, I re-hardened it. And while it was red hot for the casehardening I bent it just the smallest bit, to improve the flint/frizzen contact angle. That took care of any problems. It's really a well built lock and sparks like crazy now but the frizzen definitely needed some TLC.

And my experience with the India-made muskets is that because of the amount of hand work that goes into each one, a replacement lock very well may not be a "drop-in" replacement but will also involve some labor and time to make it work. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

sneezy

 

[J.D.]

I was thinking the same as Sneezy. Most flint bashing is the result of a too soft frizzen, or a rough frizzen. Usually too soft.

There are several good threads on case hardening using primitive equipment, such as a charcoal from Wally World, lump, not briquette, a tin can and a BBQ grill or wood fire, and a bucket of water.

 

[rich pierce]

Lock tuning is a real work of love, takes a lot of time no matter what the cure. Hard to think about taking on a job like that for less than $100, realistically.

 

[fallaloosa]

I would have to say I agree with the guys who suggested reworking the lock. It sounds to me if your lock is bustin flints and not too reliable, that you might want to check into hardening it. That might be easier than putting in a new lock. my two cents, other's opinion may vary :v

 

[CrackStock]

Mine was not sparking as well as it had been and required rehardening of the frizzen. Worked fine for a couple fo years after that, but I just cracked the mainspring. I have not been able to tweak a replacement to proper tension. Too strong of too weak...

CS

 

[wulf]

I had a flint basher and solved the problem by
heating and bending the cock at the throat just
a little. Changing the angle of attack gave
slide rather than 'dig' and stick...and bash.Of
course the frizzen should be hard..My opinion
based only on my experience..Also reversing the
flint like bevel down will give you a clue...

 

[krasnayaznamya]

Thanx all for the great advice. I'll start with the easiest and move on from there and see what works. Perhaps it's something as simple as reversing the bevel on the flint to get the proper angle.

I was a bit nervous over the 4th of July weekend as Fox News interviewed me (1st Virginia Regiment does a program at Mount Vernon every 4th) and we did a volley, with me in plain sight of the camera...I prayed that it would go off and luckily it did...kinda would like to not have to pray, though...

Thanx again!! :hatsoff:

 

[Parzifal]

I would suggest perhaps calling up loyalist and perhaps sending them your lock for some re working..
[url] WWW.LOYALISTARMS.FREESERVERS.COM[/url]

They have reworked almost all of my locks with fine results.

Robert