lock swap

I have an opportunity to buy a N.W. trade gun in 20ga. By all indications it was built in 1977. At least that date is on the underside of the barrel. The inletting is quite good and the wood has a few dings but nothing significant. The one problem is it has an Italian "LOTT" lock. i see where Track sells a replacement lock made by Davis. I know Davis makes a good lock; what I want to know is if any one has used this lock as a replacement for a Pedersoli or similar trade gun with an italian lock If so how did it work?

 

[matt denison]

Hi Squint. Your description of the N.W. trade gun sounds like one of Curly Gostomski's early guns. He used the Lott lock before the Barnett was copied. There are still many of these locks out there sparking and doing their job well.

Are you having a problem with the lock?

 

Laffindog, thanks for the response. I don't see any markings indicating the origins of the gun. It has a Douglas barrel of about 30 inch length.
The main spring seems a bit on the weak side comapared to my other flinters of more recent manufacture. Spark is weak as well tho sometimes it goes bang just as it should. I've been shooting flint for a couple of years now and done everything I know how to do with it to get it sparking more consistent without luck. If it turns out to be an old "Curly" gun what should I do with it? squint

 

[pathfinderifh]

If the lock fit's the mortice, switch it. If it doesn't, send the spring to Davis and they may have one to fit. Call first, they used to do this for me. Curly used to make a great gun, and a hell of a Guy to share a fire with!


PS. If ya don't want the gun, let me know' I'll take it off yer hands!

 

[dlemaster]

I used a couple of LOTT locks years ago, in fact I still have one in my parts drawer. The biggest problem I recall having was the frizzens needed recase hardened. They were probably about the same quality as the original trade gun locks of the period were.
I just looked at the lock I still have and the mainspring is pretty stout on it. Maybe someone adjusted yours?

Regards, Dave