School Me On Mule Ear Locks

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I've been window shopping for rifles I'm eventually going to be acquiring -- or want to eventually acquire, anyway!

When I was running a search for swivel breech rifles, I came across a "mule ear" lock.

These rifles and lock seem to be more common than swivel breech rifles. There's even a conversion lock for T/C rifles out there! Still trying to figure out how that would work...

Anyway, does anyone own one, and how do you like it? What are the pros/cons to the lock vs. the standard sidelock?

Thank you,

Josh

 

[Rogue River]

Here's a link you can look at ! http://pioneerarms.com/mule_ear_lock.html

 

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I'm coming up with a dns not found, even when changing it to www.mule_ear_lock.html (I'm assuming the "xxx/" was a typo.

Thanks!

Josh

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Josh, the mule ear side slapper lock is so simple that even I can make them with nothing more than a drill press and a set of torches. Here's one I made to replace the flintlock on my Blue Ridge.

I've also made one for a flint T/C, just replace the 1/4x28 vent liner with a percussion nipple and go for it. I've made half a dozen or so, no two quite alike. I think my first, in '72 or '73 was the best. I used a flat mainspring with a swivel link to the hammer and a sliding side safety. I guess I've gotten lazy of late and now tend to keep it simple but man, that first lock was scary fast. But about any sideslapper is faster than most rotating hammer guns.

 

[Rogue River]

Google Pioneer Arms Company !

 

[Josh Smith]

Thank you, gents!

Josh

 

[napolean]

Nice lookin' lock, Joe.
But looks to me like it "rotates"
Have you built any with a flat mainspring on the outside of the plate?
I've seen several like that.
Jon D

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Yes, you got me on the "rotating hammer", of course the sideslapper hammer also rotates, I guess I should have said "vertically rotating hammer" or something like that.
I have never used an external mainspring, just a matter of taste I guess but to me it just seems like a rather crude way to go about it, I just prefer functional lock parts to be inside the plate. I also have never used the latterly moving sear as so many sideslappers do. One reason being that I've always made these locks to replace a conventional flintlock with vertical sear so it made more sense to retain that sear design so it will work with the original trigger.
But back to the external mainspring, I'm now working on an underhammer pistol design in which the exposed mainspring is also the hammer. The only moving part is the trigger, just three parts to the firing mechanism, hammerspring, trigger and trigger spring. The main points of this design, besides simplicity, is that it makes for a short overall length for any given barrel length and it permits safe carry of the gun loaded and capped read to go with just a long pull of the trigger like a double action revolver.

 

[F.G. Ford]

You HAVE to tell & show us more about your locks. Pleeeeese?
Old Ford

 

[Tumblernotch]

[/img]

[/img]

This is one I made for my chunk gun.

Here are a couple of views of the one I copied mine from:

 

[CoyoteJoe]

You HAVE to tell & show us more about your locks. Pleeeeese?
Old Ford

Well just remember you asked for it. :haha:
Here's the one for a T/C, it works well enough to win a couple of shoots last year.

Here's one I made on a CVA lockplate with a Springfield musket hammer. Big mistake, that massive hammer strikes with a lot of shock & recoil. :haha:

And here's the underhammer pistol as a work in progress, shown "hammer" down. In the carry position the hammer-spring is propped up by the froward extension of the trigger, I forgot to photograph that.

With a single trigger it is easy enough to incorporate a half-cock notch in a sideslapper but for double triggers it gets a bit complicated to add a fly so I just skip the half-cock if used for set triggers.

 

[chapmans]

Josh,
Here is the type I've been using for years.
Regards, Steve Chapman

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Very nice Longball, both design and execution!
I found the missing photo of the underhammer at the carry position, just enough room to slip a capper under the hammer. I've popped a couple of caps to assure that it does work. :haha:

 

[Tinker2]

I'm now working on an underhammer pistol design in which the exposed mainspring is also the hammer. The only moving part is the trigger, just three parts to the firing mechanism, hammerspring, trigger and trigger spring.

Just a thought but if it is going to be double action why not just use the
Hammer/spring for the trigger spring too?
:idunno:

Looks good, neat. I never met a underhammer I didn’t like.


Tinker2
William Alexander

 

[F.G. Ford]

Nice work guys.
Looking forward to seeing more.
Old Ford

 

[sumoj275]

Can someone enlighten me on what the reasoning is behind a mule ear lock? Advantages and such, history, etc?

 

[Captjoel]

Here is an original made by William Gardner from Geneva NY ca. 1840. This rifle is a full stock with twin cheek pieces on both sides of the buttstock. William Gardner was married to William Antes daughter.

 

[Captjoel]

This muley is a halfstock 32 cal. made by Charles Miller also from NY state ca. 1850 or so.

 

[Captjoel]

This one is attributed to Samual Morrison from Milton PA ca. 1840. It uses the external main spring and is quite a large lock.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Can someone enlighten me on what the reasoning is behind a mule ear lock? Advantages and such, history, etc?

It was just one of many expermentations through the centuries. A puzzlement why they were/are not more popular.
A fellow named Bob Tingle used to make side slapper pistols and rifles in the 1970s and 80s. They were reasonable priced and known for reliability and accuracy. Today a Tingle is highly prized. CJ, great postings and innovative work you are showing. This is a good thread, IMHO, as it really teaches something about the journey of ml development from 'then' to now. A pleasant relief from 'what charge do I need in my GPR.....?'.