Lock size question?

[Travis Gregory]

Im wanting to build a Lancaster (John Bivins)style rifle with a 42in A weight swamped barrel in .40cal. The only way I can get a kit from TOTW with a pre-carved stock for that barrel is with a large Siler lock. Im wanting and small rifle that is slim and trim and I would think it would be better suited with a small Siler lock. What is the correct lock size? Will that particular rifle style look right with a Large Siler? I appreciate your input in advance.

 

[rdillion]

I believe it will look fine with that swamped barrel. I've learned to trust those guys at TOTW and doubt they would sell that rifle in kit form if it was not a well thought out design. I like that 40 cal for use in Ark since you can legally hunt deer and small game with it.

 

[Stophel]

The small Siler is generally TOO small for rifles (pistols too, I think...). It creates difficulties in lining up lock bolts and other things.

If anything, a lock that is small will make a gun look fatter than it actually is. The vertical height of the gun is determined by the thickness of the barrel, the "web" of wood between the rod and barrel, the rod, and the wood underneath the rod. The lock is irrelevant here...other than appearance. A small lock exposes a lot more wood, which makes the stock look very fat.

 

[Birddog6]

The rifle should have a Large Siler on it. It fits the rifle properly & if you look in the RCA book you will see it is correct.

Once in a while people get the misconseption that because it says Large, it is a huge lock. Not so....... Not a big lock like a Colonial VA or English or a Germanic lock. It simply means it is the large version, not the small version of the two siler locks. The small Siler is more fitting for a pistol IMHO.

I will also say the ONLY lock I would put on it would be a Chambers Siler......... I have used several dozen of them & they are top notch in their field, especially for the money. Plus a Lifetime Guarantee on parts if you buy it from Jim Chambers........



Keith :thumbsup:

 

[Mike Brooks]

The "large" Siler is a pretty small lock in my book.

 

[Tumblernotch]

The "large" Siler is a pretty small lock in my book.

Compared to most others out there, it is. If you were to rate locks by size, I would call it a "medium" maybe. I know it is called a large because Siler only made a large and a small. I still have a small Bud Siler percussion kit that I've never assembled. I've never built a rifle small enough to use it on. I've been thinking of building a small ladies/boys rifle for my wife if I can get her interested in shooting again. Maybe I could use it on that! :hmm:

 

[Travis Gregory]

Thanks to all for your replys. I was afraid I would end up with a rifle where the lock looked unproportional to the rest of the rifle. Mike and Birddog I love both of your guns and really respect your opinions. Thanks again.

 

[Birddog6]

If you want a smaller framed rifle, go with Dunlaps I.Haines parts set. The buttstock on it is considerably smaller than the one on the TOW Bivins rifle.
I have both buttplates here if you want a photo of them. In fact, I may have a rifle stock of both, I would have to look, but seems like I have them.

On the rifle, be it a A weight or a B weight barrel, the buttstock will be the same on them.

:thumbsup:

 

[robweston]

Turk,
Check out Tip Curtis in Cross Plains, TN. He sells what he calls a "Small Lancaster" precarved stock for a small siler lock. Length wise it is full sized but it is slimmed down and looks very sleek. I went to his shop last month and purchased one. He had a couple of finished rifles using this stock and I really liked the look and feel of the rifles. At the time he had one other "Small Lancaster" stock for a small siler. Evidently he is only pre-carving stocks for his lock now. The stock was $165 and had nice figure to it. He could probably send you pictures of his finished rifle so you could judge for yourself how it looks.

Hope that helps.
Rob Weston