Who does Lock work?

[Tony Rothrock]

This .45 rifle I've got with the unidentifiable lock, I just can't get good spark out of it. When I got it the frizzen was beat all to hell. It had been "dry fired" many, many times probably with little success since the vent was just a pinprick in the Douglas barrel. I drilled out the vent to 1/16th, polished up the frizzen and did the "Cherry Red" treatment. That got me about 2 or 3 out of 5 tries would get me enough spark to actually fire the thing. Repeated the "treatment" a number of times with no improvement. I think that frizzen is shot and needs replacement. Also, thing never did like to go into halfcock. If I set or hold the rear trigger back, I can get it into halfcock, but it don't "Click". When I took thing apart to clean it up, I noticed a lot of tool marks on the tumbler and the corner of the breech plug. Someone had taken a file to it and the halfcock notch is nearly nonexistant. I don't have the tooling to make a new tumbler and I certainly don't have any idea what firzzen to buy to replace this one. Any suggestions as to who I might send this thing to to get it "Tuned Up"?

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

First who made the lock?

 

[Notchy Bob]

Brad Emig of Cabin Creek Muzzleloading is your man. I’m sorry, but I don’t know how to paste in a link with this touch-screen device I’m using here, but you should find him with an easy search. He fixed two for me and I can vouch for the quality of his work and his service.

I have read that Lee Shaver will tune locks, but I have no personal experience dealing with him. Also, I understand that the Log Cabin Shop in Lodi, Ohio has at least one gunsmith on staff who can tune locks. The only other one I know of is Dan Stavlo at Lodgewood Mfg., but his real specialty is “defarbing” reproductions of 19th century military arms, and last I heard, he was swamped and not taking new work right now. I can say Dan fixed a problematic Euroarms C.S. Richmond lock for me, including fitting a new tumbler, and he did a really fine job.

There are dozens or maybe hundreds of people who assemble or build muzzleloaders, either from scratch or from kits, but not that many who will fix them when they have a problem. Not many whom I know of, anyway.

Finally, I saw your comment about the “unidentifiable lock.” If you would post clear photos of your lock, one of the outside and one of the inside, the Muzzleloading Forum’s “Brain Trust” may be able to identify it.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Correction ... it is 'David' Stavo @ Lodgewood.

Another source for locks repair if Jeff Miller at The Flintlock Forge, link =
https://flintlockforge.weebly.com/

 

[Commodore Swab]

I do. Post a picture and perhaps I can give you some advice. Alternatively send me a message or look me up as I will be at Alafia an Myakka renezvous in Jan/feb.

 

[waksupi]

From what you describe it would be cheaper to replace the lock, rather than fix it.

 

[Notchy Bob]

Correction ... it is 'David' Stavlo @ Lodgewood.

Right! Thank you for the correction!

Notchy Bob

 

[springfield art]

Brad Emig of Cabin Creek Muzzleloading is your man. I’m sorry, but I don’t know how to paste in a link with this touch-screen device I’m using here, but you should find him with an easy search. He fixed two for me and I can vouch for the quality of his work and his service.

I have read that Lee Shaver will tune locks, but I have no personal experience dealing with him. Also, I understand that the Log Cabin Shop in Lodi, Ohio has at least one gunsmith on staff who can tune locks. The only other one I know of is Dan Stavlo at Lodgewood Mfg., but his real specialty is “defarbing” reproductions of 19th century military arms, and last I heard, he was swamped and not taking new work right now. I can say Dan fixed a problematic Euroarms C.S. Richmond lock for me, including fitting a new tumbler, and he did a really fine job.

There are dozens or maybe hundreds of people who assemble or build muzzleloaders, either from scratch or from kits, but not that many who will fix them when they have a problem. Not many whom I know of, anyway.

Finally, I saw your comment about the “unidentifiable lock.” If you would post clear photos of your lock, one of the outside and one of the inside, the Muzzleloading Forum’s “Brain Trust” may be able to identify it.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

Yeah, Lodgewood got a major article in the NRA magazine, "American Rifleman" and got so much work from that that they're fully loaded for now, apparently.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Yeah, Lodgewood got a major article in the NRA magazine, "American Rifleman" and got so much work from that that they're fully loaded for now, apparently.

.. the last Dave told me is that he has a 2-year backlog ...

 

[GriscomRun]

Looks like you have some sources now. I do know of people who speak well of Brad Emig at Cabin Creek.

 

[Tony Rothrock]

Brad Emig of Cabin Creek Muzzleloading is your man. I’m sorry, but I don’t know how to paste in a link with this touch-screen device I’m using here, but you should find him with an easy search. He fixed two for me and I can vouch for the quality of his work and his service.

I have read that Lee Shaver will tune locks, but I have no personal experience dealing with him. Also, I understand that the Log Cabin Shop in Lodi, Ohio has at least one gunsmith on staff who can tune locks. The only other one I know of is Dan Stavlo at Lodgewood Mfg., but his real specialty is “defarbing” reproductions of 19th century military arms, and last I heard, he was swamped and not taking new work right now. I can say Dan fixed a problematic Euroarms C.S. Richmond lock for me, including fitting a new tumbler, and he did a really fine job.

There are dozens or maybe hundreds of people who assemble or build muzzleloaders, either from scratch or from kits, but not that many who will fix them when they have a problem. Not many whom I know of, anyway.

Finally, I saw your comment about the “unidentifiable lock.” If you would post clear photos of your lock, one of the outside and one of the inside, the Muzzleloading Forum’s “Brain Trust” may be able to identify it.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

Pictures are included in this post: Well, I went and did it..

 

[Cayman like]

This .45 rifle I've got with the unidentifiable lock, I just can't get good spark out of it. When I got it the frizzen was beat all to hell. It had been "dry fired" many, many times probably with little success since the vent was just a pinprick in the Douglas barrel. I drilled out the vent to 1/16th, polished up the frizzen and did the "Cherry Red" treatment. That got me about 2 or 3 out of 5 tries would get me enough spark to actually fire the thing. Repeated the "treatment" a number of times with no improvement. I think that frizzen is shot and needs replacement. Also, thing never did like to go into halfcock. If I set or hold the rear trigger back, I can get it into halfcock, but it don't "Click". When I took thing apart to clean it up, I noticed a lot of tool marks on the tumbler and the corner of the breech plug. Someone had taken a file to it and the halfcock notch is nearly nonexistant. I don't have the tooling to make a new tumbler and I certainly don't have any idea what firzzen to buy to replace this one. Any suggestions as to who I might send this thing to to get it "Tuned Up"?

Cabin Creek.

 

[bpd303]

I would say it would be less expensive to replace the lock and then you would be able to get parts for it when needed.

 

[RobertIN]

@FlinterNick did my lock, huge improvement and a great guy to deal with.

 

[FlinterNick]

@FlinterNick did my lock, huge improvement and a great guy to deal with.

Thanks so much my pleasure

 

[RobertIN]

Thanks so much my pleasure

Absolutely. Got it stuck back on there and it sparks so well now. Excited to take it out to see what charge she likes without eating through flints and getting more flash than shots lol.

 

[sturmkatze]

I do. Post a picture and perhaps I can give you some advice. Alternatively send me a message or look me up as I will be at Alafia an Myakka renezvous in Jan/feb.

What’s your real name?

 

[FlinterNick]

Absolutely. Got it stuck back on there and it sparks so well now. Excited to take it out to see what charge she likes without eating through flints and getting more flash than shots lol.

Keep me updated on it and your hunt !

 

[RobertIN]

Keep me updated on it and your hunt !

Sure will!

 

[bpd303]

What’s your real name?

Probably best done through PM messages.