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why lock tuning?
- Thread starter dcriner
- Start date
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Yes, it should be.
One wonders why it doesn't happen more often.
One wonders why it doesn't happen more often.
paulvallandigham
Passed On
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Mass production lowers the standards of workmanship, unfortunately, so that many commercially made gun leave much to be desired. This is also true of modern suppository guns, however. And, in the latter case, there are also products liability law concerns that compel manufacturers to leave springs heavy, or trigger pulls harder than they need be, etc.
You can complain all you want, but no one is holding a gun to your heard to make you buy this stuff.
Much of tuning a lock is simply removing burrs, and making sure that parts of a lock move freely. A manufacturer would have to add several hundred dollars to tune the locks on all the guns they sell, to pay for the handwork involved, even for parts made by CNC equipment. Cutting corners allows them to compete with the stuff being sold here that is made overseas.
If you have any skills with hand tools at all, you can do most of the "tuning " yourself. There is an article under "Member Resources" on "Shooting and Tuning Flintlocks" that takes you through the steps to "reverse engineer" your lock for the purpose of tuning it. Percussion locks have one less spring to worry about, and otherwise involve the same process as done with Flintlocks. :thumbsup: :wink: :hatsoff:
You can complain all you want, but no one is holding a gun to your heard to make you buy this stuff.
Much of tuning a lock is simply removing burrs, and making sure that parts of a lock move freely. A manufacturer would have to add several hundred dollars to tune the locks on all the guns they sell, to pay for the handwork involved, even for parts made by CNC equipment. Cutting corners allows them to compete with the stuff being sold here that is made overseas.
If you have any skills with hand tools at all, you can do most of the "tuning " yourself. There is an article under "Member Resources" on "Shooting and Tuning Flintlocks" that takes you through the steps to "reverse engineer" your lock for the purpose of tuning it. Percussion locks have one less spring to worry about, and otherwise involve the same process as done with Flintlocks. :thumbsup: :wink: :hatsoff:
Then there is the issue of what is a "tuned lock"?
To some a flintlock that sparks every time and doesn't bash its flint is fine just the way it is.
Others want a lock with no perceptible creep in the sear, makes enough sparks to start a small forest fire and self knapps its flint.
I'm exaggerating a bit but you guys know what I'm saying.
As paulvallandigham points out, some factory made guns have production schedules to meet and this is the top priority.
These guns can have poor to well designed locks and they usually work OK but with a bit of improvement they can become pretty good.
That's what many call tuning.
To some a flintlock that sparks every time and doesn't bash its flint is fine just the way it is.
Others want a lock with no perceptible creep in the sear, makes enough sparks to start a small forest fire and self knapps its flint.
I'm exaggerating a bit but you guys know what I'm saying.
As paulvallandigham points out, some factory made guns have production schedules to meet and this is the top priority.
These guns can have poor to well designed locks and they usually work OK but with a bit of improvement they can become pretty good.
That's what many call tuning.
Cascade Pete
40 Cal.
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Actually Paul,
With the Euro gaining ground against the US Dollar, American made firearms(especially Traditional Types) are a better value than Italian made ones..Anyone who would even consider a Chinese knock off should be soundly thrashed...There really is no excuse for a poorly tuned lock from an American Manufacturer, except greed and sloppy work...JMHO
With the Euro gaining ground against the US Dollar, American made firearms(especially Traditional Types) are a better value than Italian made ones..Anyone who would even consider a Chinese knock off should be soundly thrashed...There really is no excuse for a poorly tuned lock from an American Manufacturer, except greed and sloppy work...JMHO
Capt. Jas.
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dcriner said:
On higher end custom guns, a tuned, polished, usually cased lock is part of the gun. You will not find this work done on a gun that sells for what quality parts would cost. From what I have seen, a gun selling in the 800.00 range is going to usually get you a third choice maker's lock or a kit assembled "siler" with little or no work done to it and rough browned so as to leave the casting surface on it.
Ray-Vigo
Yankee
I agree it depends on what someone is looking for in a "tuned" lock. It does vary.
I think it has to do with the modes of production employed for profit and efficiency. In a high volume factory environment, the guns are built in segments by different work stations. Some involve skilled craftsmen and some do not. You also have the issue of greater tolerances to prevent volume loss. As part of this efficiency, there is a "that's ok" allowance for stuff that basically functions, but offers little more because it fits within the model of cost vs profit for the outfit. Liability plays a role too.
A single, skilled craftsman building a gun all the way through can plan ahead as the unique needs of the project require, tailor the methods to each particular gun/part and have a feel for the production all the way through. It's much more inefficient from a volume standpoint, but it does allow for the possibility of getting the best from each individual gun, and even tailoring it to the customer. The modes really are two different animals.
Then you have semi-custom production that is a mix of different modes and options.
The economic elements enter the field, like they do with almost all other goods out there. You don't always "get what you pay for", but there are general trends, like in everything else.
I think it has to do with the modes of production employed for profit and efficiency. In a high volume factory environment, the guns are built in segments by different work stations. Some involve skilled craftsmen and some do not. You also have the issue of greater tolerances to prevent volume loss. As part of this efficiency, there is a "that's ok" allowance for stuff that basically functions, but offers little more because it fits within the model of cost vs profit for the outfit. Liability plays a role too.
A single, skilled craftsman building a gun all the way through can plan ahead as the unique needs of the project require, tailor the methods to each particular gun/part and have a feel for the production all the way through. It's much more inefficient from a volume standpoint, but it does allow for the possibility of getting the best from each individual gun, and even tailoring it to the customer. The modes really are two different animals.
Then you have semi-custom production that is a mix of different modes and options.
The economic elements enter the field, like they do with almost all other goods out there. You don't always "get what you pay for", but there are general trends, like in everything else.
Many Klatch
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I like to fiddle with all my guns and tuning the locks is easy and effective. It is simply a matter of polishing the moving and non-moving parts inside of the lock so as to reduce friction as much as possible. I have seen high end name maker guns that apparently were meant to be wall hangers that needed a lot of work before they could be shot in competition. I figure it takes a year of regular shooting and fiddling with a flintlock before it becomes a dependable shooter.
Many Klatch
Many Klatch
Ken Rummer
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I tuned my flintlocks per the procedure referenced by Paul. It worked great. The action got smoother and faster and group size shrunk which proved to me it worked.
Your question has been pretty well addressed already.
But, do keep in mind, this matter is not limited to flintlocks, or even percs for that matter.
It is not unusual for purchasers of modern pistols to buy something for a $1,000.00 the immediately send it to a gunsmith for a tune up at the cost of another $1,000.00.
Depends on what you want and how fussy you are. Many of us here are very fussy.
But, do keep in mind, this matter is not limited to flintlocks, or even percs for that matter.
It is not unusual for purchasers of modern pistols to buy something for a $1,000.00 the immediately send it to a gunsmith for a tune up at the cost of another $1,000.00.
Depends on what you want and how fussy you are. Many of us here are very fussy.
Many Klatch said:
About 3 years ago I attended a "mini-seminar" that was given at a rendezvous by Many Klatch. After that I went home and polished/de-burred the innards of 3 flint locks, also relieved springs so they didn't ride against the lock plate. Haven't done all my guns yet, but I do think it makes a difference and it makes me proud that the insides of my locks look as good or better than the outside.
I've seen a lot of variability in the quality of locks on some originals as well. Some of the later flint/early percussion guns had sort of hardware store quality locks that would be seen as junk today. The guns they were on were base level.
