New To Me Renegade Flintlock

[White Oak]

Just picked up my 54 cal Renegade this morning. I have known for months that this gun was going to be available and the wait has been rough.Not NIB but I would rate it as very good. The bore and bluing are excellent as is the lock. There are a few small dings in the stock but nothing major. She has a 5 digit serial# and no BP only warning on the barrel.
I believe I read a post awhile back which talked about a change in the T/C locks. It pertained to the frizzens on the earlier models being a brownish color due to the case hardening. The entire lock on this gun appears as new and the frizzen is jet black. If this is an earlier model gun, I am wondering if the lock wasn't updated.
Anyway, as this is my first flinter the questions will likely flow guys. I will try to remember to search first.
Just a T/C but right now I think I'm in love ! :redface:
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and all the best to ya in 2014!
Thanks,
Ed

 

[ncmtmike]

Congrats on the Flinter

 

[stinkyfeet]

Just a TC.. Heck I would wager that more than half the member on this forum either started out on a TC or have owned one. I would like to say 75% of the members but theres a huge Lyman following here.

 

[Alden]

Started? Still shoot a T/C .50 Hawken caplock (and a Contender).

And...

hotoSmile:

 

[dbutch]

This might help..

Search "Roundball"

Here's one of his FYI posts a good one!

Post: Old Style - New Style T/C Flint Locks (Topic#238302)

 

[larryp]

Started? Still shoot a T/C .50 Hawken caplock (and a Contender).

And...

hotoSmile:

Yep! Same here!

 

[don hepler]

The early locks, were case hardened, on the plate, the frizzen, and the cock. Later ones, had the cock, changed to a different angle and the frizzen was solid black. Suppose to be better lock geometry and harder frizzen. I have a Renegade, flint lock, in 50 cal. and a Renegade cap lock, in 54 cal. and a 50 cal. Renegade custom, with GM, RB barrel. The custom has a 15/16 barrel in a 1" stock. I shimmed it, with intention of glass bedding, but there is only 1/32 gap on each side of barrel, and it shots so good, that I'm afraid to change anything.

 

[White Oak]

No offense intended with the "just T/C comment".
That is all I own. There are enough of them around to allow a guy to be selective and affordable to me. I am sure mine are capable of shooting better than I am. I will be shooting them till I can't any more.
Hey, thanks for the lock info also guys. As I said, the frizzen is black so I am thinking this is gun must have been after the change or the lock was changed.
Thanks,
Ed

 

[kopfjaeger]

A TC is what I started with back in the mid 1970's.

 

[White Oak]

Thanks makeumsmoke. That is an excellent post by Roundball. Sad to say I was wrong and apparently have the old style lock. The frizzen definitely appears black rather than case hardened but everything else says old style.From what I have been hearing T/C or S&W now has not always been as cooperative on replacing as they were in the past. I do know where I can purchase a new T/C frizzen. Not sure that the design of that wasn't also changed and it may not work with the old lock. That would result in a harder frizzen but not the other benefits of the new style lock. Wondering if the new style touchhole liner would work with mine as I still have the slotted style also.
Thanks,
Ed

 

[MSW]

for what it's worth, I've owned a T/C renegade for nearly forty years and it's served me well and faithfully throughout thick and thin ... you will have other flinters, but take my advice: keep this one or you will kick yourself long and hard. beware of gunsnobs - they often have a T/C in their closet like the rest of us ... now I have spare barrels for it; a .54 and a 20 gauge just back from Bobby Hoyt ... gotta get to the range!!

(OK- I'm loyal to my first muzzle loader ... isn't that why we're here?)

you do have the old style lock, and it will work fine. I shot out the frizzen on mine (bought it used, and there looked to be plenty of wear on it). So I tried to reharden it myself, to no avail, and I took it to the local gunsmith, who said he could try, and it would cost me 25 bucks, or he could sell me a new one for 15. duh - I'm a cheapskate, not an idiot... he 'fessed up that it was a Lyman frizzen ... now, many years later (like in '12) I called T/C and asked if I could purchase a spare frizzen and they said just sent in the whole lock, which I did first thing Monday morning. On Thursday I had a package in the mail from T/C - a brand new lock ... I don't know if you'll have a similar result from them now that they're owned by S&W, but you could try ... by the way they were really bad at e- mails, but when I called them on the phone they were very nice - the lady sounded like someone's grandmother ... or, keep what you have and enjoy ... either way,

make good smoke!

 

[White Oak]

Thanks MSW.
Believe me. This gun isn't going anywhere. I love T/Cs and this won't be my last. 3 others are cap guns. This is my first flinter. Bought it from a friend and know how it was cared for and it shows. I am not terribly disappointed to learn that it is not the new style lock however it would have been nice. This gun always served him well as I am sure it will me.
I may try contacting S&W tomorrow just to see what kind of response I get. Can't much more than say no. Do you know if the new style frizzen will fit the old style lock? Man, I am telling you ,this one shows very little wear. The entire lock looks new. That along with the black color of the frizzen made me think it may be the new style lock. Just speaks for the kind of care this gun had.
Hey, thanks for the info. Much appreciated. It is good to know that some frizzen out there could be made to work if T/C parts were totally unavailable. You can believe I am in no way disappointed with the Renegade and it's hanging around!
Thanks again,
Ed

 

[bpd303]

More than likely the frizzen has been re-hardened. When heat treating them they turn black and unless it's polished that is how they are used. If it's sparking well I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[White Oak]

Thanks. Sparks great!