Making a Wheellock Part I

[k.jacobfrost]

A while back I promised to post some photos of the wheellock pistols a friend (Thomas) and I are making. We have not done a whole lot of work on the project so far (remodeling a house takes up a lot of time). All we have done so far is cut out the rough stocks and gathered some of the material we plan to make the locks out of. The wood was a 5 or 6 foot section of maple from a local lumber yard.

The first two photos are our inspiration for the project. They came from The Age of Firearms by Robert Held. LCCCN: 56-8164 It is a mostly good book and has a lot of useful info on early firearms and a lot of extent pieces in it.

Horse Pistol

German Pistol

Stocks

I have already asked a few questions pertaining to this project, and I will have more. I'm posting not only to show the work, but also as a way of getting questions answered. Here are a few, how thick should the lock components be? We have not picked up a caliper yet, so if you could give me rough sizes in inches that would be helpful as well.

Thanks,
Frost

I guess I should also mention that neither one of us has any experience in gunsmithing or bp, so this should be an interesting project to follow.

 

[Mike Brooks]

I would suggest you make a working lock first, then go on with the rest of the project.

 

[k.jacobfrost]

I think that is what we are planning on doing. I'm just not sure sure how thick to make all the parts, and have been having a hell of a time figuring out how the trigger engages the sier. I can find tons of photos of locks, but nothing shows how the trigger should be shaped or how it sits when the lock is assembled. :cursing: If anybody could point me to were I can find this information that would be vary helpful.

 

[BlackNet]

Question

Is that the right cut on the wood?

Ed

 

Frost, While this is the building area, I wouls suggest you also post in the Pre-flint area, as those guys's will have better answers, and have built these locks already. They will have more resources to provide. Not chasing you away from building, please share your progress, but Vol, and bookie have already done it, and you will get better answers there. Go for it. Bill

 

[Bookie]

The trigger on my wheelie engages the sear just like a regular muzzleloader trigger does. Some wheelies even used set triggers! Cheers, Bookie

 

[k.jacobfrost]

Thanks for the suggestion. The only problem is that I have no idea how those kind of triggers engage as well.

 

[k.jacobfrost]

Frost, While this is the building area, I wouls suggest you also post in the Pre-flint area, as those guys's will have better answers, and have built these locks already. They will have more resources to provide. Not chasing you away from building, please share your progress, but Vol, and bookie have already done it, and you will get better answers there. Go for it. Bill

How would one move or re-post to the Pre-flint area. Preferably without having to rewrite it?
Frost

 

[WRussell]

Get a copy of "Wheellock Firearms of the Royal Armouries" by Graeme Rimer. You can get it new from the Royal Armouries, or find one on one of the used book sites, like Abebooks or Amazon.

Good drawings of the mechanism, lots of photos.

The thickness dimensions are not critical. The drawings in the book will be enough to get things to work. The toughie is the chain - good steel, well fitted and well hardened/tempered is a must.

 

To repost just copy and paste your questions then edit them. Go to your original post, hilight the text, then right click your mouse on the hilighted text, and choose copy. Then go to the preflint section, start a new post, and at the flashing cursur right click your mouse, and select paste. You might have to repost your pics, if they come up red X's
Bill