What is the best book?

[Daryl Crawford]

What is your best recommendation for a book that has detailed instructions and photographs for disassembling, reassembling, and working on flintlock locks?
I've got a Russ Hamm lock that is really hard on trigger pull. I want to take it down and clean each part (fearing old lube that is basically gluing the lock) and I may need to reduce the main spring a bit.
I appreciate the input.

 

[morehops52]

Let me give you the view point from a former novice. After reading here on the forum I purchased a coil spring lock compressor and a "V" spring compressor from TOW. I took close up pics all along the way and disassembled both flint and percussion in coil and V spring locks. I cleaned up and polished every rotating and contact point and gave proper lube. I've gotten most triggers to 3-4 lb range. I had one Lyman perc lock that wouldn't let off below 6 lb even after two tries.. I finally took a magnifier to the sear surface and it looked pretty pocked. I used a (not recommended) Dremel tool with a worn bit and smoothed it out. That trigger now breaks at my target 3-1/2 lb.
My point is that if a ham fisted amateur like me can do it you can too! I know there is info here that can be searched and I expect you will get better responses than mine. But it's not rocket science and no need to be afraid of it.

 

[waksupi]

Russ Hamm's locks were never known as quality locks, and you will probably be limited in any fixes. I suspect your problem may be the trigger it's self. If it is a trigger that pivots on the trigger plate, that is the source of your bad trigger.