Replacement Brown Bess lock

[Sharab85]

Does anyone know where I can find a replacement lock for Middlesex village long land brown bess, I can't get if from Middlesex because of reasons discussed on other threads.

I have talked to Veteran Arms and they say their locks are not the same and would not fit.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

The Indian locks are not interchangeable so be prepared to do some handfitting. Good luck.

 

[nwtradegun]

try pedrsoli, I have a pedrosoli mage one, send me ur address and I will send a tracing of the lock plate.

 

[Sharab85]

Thanks!!! PM sent

 

[okawbow]

Send the lock to Flintlockrepair.com. He will make it work well, and no need to reshape, or fill in wood.

Where are you in S. Illinois?

Chuck

 

[Sharab85]

Carterville, Il

 

[Artificer]

Send the lock to Flintlockrepair.com. He will make it work well, and no need to reshape, or fill in wood.

Chuck

Sharab85,

I could not agree more with Chuck on his recommendation to get your current lock repaired and working correctly. Besides the problem that another lock plate probably would not fit your current lock plate inletting in the stock, there is also the problem of the lock screws that go through the stock would most likely be off and you may or probably would need to open or move the holes in the stock for them. That may require moving the holes in the side plate for those screws. Also, though Pedersoli locks normally operate better than India made locks, Pedersoli Bess locks can also need tuning to make them work best.

So if you get your current lock repaired and tuned, you will forego other problems that may or will crop up by getting a replacement lock.

Gus

 

[Sharab85]

Sorry I guess I should have explained, I sent my lock to Middlesex Village to get it repaired (it would fire at half cock) and I have not heard from them since, they verified that they got the lock and then stopped returning emails or answering the phone, that was six months ago. I have filled a BBB complaint and they did not respond to that. I am now pursuing options with the NH Attorney generals office but I have a feeling that my lock will never be returned.

I just want to shoot my musket that I have had for half a year now and have not been able to shoot.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

OK well first, a Pedersoli lock plate is for a Second Model, and is Waaay too small...and you'd be talking nearly $300 for that lock as well... with shipping.

IF...you can get the lock back...you can do as Chuck suggested and get the tumbler worked on to restore the half cock notch, OR repair/replace the sear, and be good to go.

The Rifle Shoppe offers a completed 1st Model 1756 LLP Lock for $295...and that should be large enough to then fit it to your musket. HOWEVER..., you're probably talking about 24 months wait...call them and maybe you'll get lucky, and they have a finished lock on the shelf???

Loyalist Arms is offering under their "specials" a 1728 musketoon kit. You'd end up with a lock that should be large enough to replace the lock that's missing. But that's a bit too much for a lock from India, when the Rifle Shoppe is offering a large enough lock for $295 + shipping, finished .

The other answer is to buy another LLP, from Loyalist Arms or Veteran Arms, while working on getting the lock back from Middlesex Village...then if you get the lock back, sell that now complete MVTC musket, or if you exhaust all options, sell the remaining bits of the MVTC gun, to help defray the cost of replacement.

LD

 

[okawbow]

I will be happy to help you fit a new lock, if you can find one. They are sometimes listed on eBay. I have some teak wood to fill in the lock panel if needed, and can case harden lock parts also.

I'm in Vandalia, but sometimes get down in your area.

However; I suggest you send MVT a registered letter demanding your lock back. If you have a lawyer friend, use his letterhead. It's amazing how a letter motivates people better than an email.

Give me a call if you need help with the lock. My contact info is on bows.net.

 

[nhmoose]

Ask at subguns.com pete in nh posts there and owns the company. Don't mention me.

 

[Sharab85]

Thank you everyone for your help and okabow thank you for the offer to help I might take you up on that if I can find the right lock.

I have talked with someone that knows Pete and he is going to try and get ahold of him so we will see.

 

[tozzybum]

go on the Henry Krank website ,its a uk company that does allsorts but have different locks in stock.give them a phonecall with your problem they may have the right size lock on the shelf.or something close that the kind people on here can help you fit atb

 

[garra]

Looks like Henry may have the solution.
http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=116_140_141&products_id=501

 

[hawkeye2]

Call these folks, at one time they had a lot of new Indian Brown Bess locks. I don't see them listed but they may still have a few on hand.

S & S Firearms
Glendale, NY
Telephone | Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm EST | (718) 497-1100

Fax | (718) 497-1105

General Questions, Technical Information | [email protected]

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Unfortunately that looks like an even smaller 3rd or India pattern lock. He's going to need the "banana" shaped lock plate of an LLP. Nice looking lock though.

LD

 

[RAEDWALD]

I claim nothing for the quality but only that they are on the list and are $80US including postage internationally.
http://www.mksikligar.com/Gun-Locks.aspx

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Those look like they might be worth a try...sure is well under the other option costs.

LD

 

[AZbpBurner]

I got a Middlesex Village Ketland Fusil last December. Same problem - the lock is AFU. It would drop into half cock when firing, so I sent it back for Pete's 'lifetime Guarantee'. It took several months to return, fired fine for another 10 rounds, then same problem.

I've since been in touch with Pete & he admits he's a poor communicator and has a big lock and gun backlog.

It all boils down to the tumbler and sear are un-hardened steel, and when they engage, they wear, and the sear bends to become misaligned. Pete realigns it, and sends it back to you. The sear and tumbler are still soft as roofing nails, and in short time will misalign again.

I decided it more expedient to get some Surface Hardening compound from Brownells and fix it myself. The soft metal is easy to smooth and polish, and the hardening did the trick.

Hardened metal slides against hardened metal smoother than soft against soft & the lock now fires just fine. Trigger pull is better than I expected, and I won't have to wait for 3 months' downtime for a subpar 'repair'.

I'd buy another gun from Middlesex village, but the first thing I'd do is tear down the lock and harden the internal parts - it's easy to do and makes the lock as reliable as any other locks I own by other manufactuerers.

 

[RAEDWALD]

Yes the steel does benefit from surface hardening but also be aware that the scear springs are grossly over strong. They can be carefully thinned. I have found it simpler to make new ones out of old hacksaw blades.