Insides of a lock...

You are very welcome Duane...I enjoy sharing and displaying my collection...
Andy

 

Some of the collection has come from wrecked guns , that I got real cheap...
And after loads of research and much soul searching...I have restored or re built....
Common sense here plays a large part in this....

Say you have a wrecked longrifle by a famous maker or one that has a known history....I wouldn't restore that one , I'd just keep it and maintain it...but a wrecked "no name rifle'...or one without a known history...that has possibilities ....
Again...after much research....In my view...which is not held by many collectors....I'd rather see such a rifle restored and given a new lease on life , than see it rust and crumble away....
Andy

 

I'm in this very same camp, I have a pair of original Rifles that are "too far gone" to be worth any thing, or worth much to the collectors, yet the collectors would shit if I were to Restore ether one. My Very first Colt 1855 patent Root rifle, and my La'mat Carbine .44/20 ga. Both are extensively damaged and are missing all wood! Obviously there is little known history behind ether, and while valuable historically, it does no good to let them continue like this. SO, i have electrico-chemically stripped the Colt first and managed to save whats left of it, I was able to pull the barrel and had Danny twist a new one for me in the correct twist and cut pattern. I am going to have to make a new Spindle and Cylinder ( from my guy who makes replicas of these Colts) and make/repair the trigger assembly and repair the frame. then I need to make new stocks. Lucky for me, I have Grand Dads wood stock collection and there is a super nice piece of California black walnut stashed away just for this rifle, and likely enough left over for the Le'mat and a set of grips or three for a few revolvers! To hell with the collectors and those who call it a crime to restore something like this, its history ether way, might as well enjoy it, and have a functional piece to actually experience history with!
Now a fun question here, These rifles normally would not have a patch box, yet they always should have had one, what do you fine folks think, should I add one? Again, historically this was not done on production Colts, and I have never seen one or even photos of one that had a patch box!

 

Well....Are you looking for a "historic" re-build or restoration...?
If so then I would not add a patchbox.
But...
It you are just having fun...and really want a patchbox...then add one...that said..
I would a a cap / patchbox of the period of the Colt rifle and not say a patchbox from a Dickert rifle from the 1780's or the like....

Some things to note on the collecting of these old guns...
I am not an expert...I can only comment on what I own , have done or have seen with mine own and others guns...
Be careful when making a statement...As soon as I say : "They only did it this way or came that way..." 5 examples of a totally different way shows up in the same type of gun....
Many of the replicas of the 1960's and 70's are showing some age now and can be mistaken for a 1860's or earlier piece...
Andy

 

At this point, I say restoration, and a patch box would be a pretty simple deal, the set up was a pretty basic, and looks pretty sharp. They did include this on a small number of civilian arms as an option, and usually included a capper and pick with nipple tool! Those I can make pretty easy, they were not all that fancy or complicated! Colt did a lot of custom stuff to his offerings, he was quite the businessman and saw the potential of offering custom touches to drive his profits up!

 

Maybe a military style cap box....something plain either iron...or brass...
Maybe rectangle in shape...?
Just tossing ideas out here....
Andy

 

Thank you ... I took some pictures of some of guns...including a few of my two "tacky" guns...
I'll get 'em posted later if they would be of interest...?
Andy

 

I let folks hold 'em and shoot some of them as well....
Andy

 

Funny thing is, the replicas are actually easier to "Build" then restoring an origional back to working order! At some point you scratch your head and go, whay the hell, I gotta make all these parts from new, and how much of the origional is left after that! This one will only have a few origional parts, mainly the frame, and the loading parts and hammer, might be able to salvage some trigger parts and the lock wedge, but all the screws are shot, and the rest is too far gone! At this point, I'm gonna have some fun and try to not only replicate what was offered based on origional advertisements and drawings, but some other period touches that should keep the traditionalists at bay! Not that I care much! Lol Now the A.H
FOX that I restored, that had to be done exactly as origional, and lucky for me it was clean up and some minor rework, and stock repairs, and it came out perfect!

 

Here is one such "mix master"...
A combo gun.... 12 gauge smoothbore and .44 caliber rifled....
Barrels , triggers , trigger guard and butt plate original....
Sights , stock and locks are new made....
( I know it works too... I got both a deer and a grouse with this gun.... )
Andy

 

Since my OP was 'bout locks...
Here is a "Boxlock" its a flintlock that is "inline" with the bore...
And here I bet many of you thought inlines were a new thing...this pistol made by Joseph Barber , is from the 1760's -70's
Andy

 

Did you say tack work...?
Here ya go....
Andy

 

Leman Trade Rife...Circa late 1830's - 1840's...
Imported lock by Ashmore...lock was converted from flint before originally being installed on the rifle...
Curly maple stock...some curl is natural some artificial...
.50 caliber...and still shoots good.....
Andy

 

J.Henry & Sons Flintlock Trade Rifle...circa 1800
.58 caliber ...still shoots good ...maple stock..Imported lock marked "Grice"
Andy

 

Ok Andy! Now we need a "tuning" tutorial on setting flints properly! I get more folks that don't understand how to set their flints, especially once they knap themselves from use and need to be adjusted or changed out!

 

That is an excellent idea...Might be best for a new thread...
I'll have to get someone to help with pictures as it may easier to show how its done vs. say how its done...
Andy

 

Andy, you should get 50 points added to your total for best gun porn ever! Love looking at the old guns and have nothing but the greatest respect for the individuals that created them with hammer, chisels, files, hand drills, and a few hand built specialized machines to rifle the barrels, etc.
John Browning, Mauser, Colt, etc were indeed geniuses in the design of weapons, but when you read of the individuals building the early guns hammer welding the barrels around a rod, boring and rifling the barrel, making the locks, doing all the woodworking, decorations and finishing, etc, you have to admire their craftsmanship and their skill in making something that 150 years later is still a thing of beauty.

A table full of guns, covering a bear skin, with an American flag in the background, If you had just placed a King James Bible on the table, you would have every tree hugging liberal in the USA on your case. Loved it even more, "BECAUSE" it wasn't a political statement, just a man enjoying his hobbies. In the short time you have been a member of this group, you have posted some very admired pictures and I for one am looking forward to more of your posts on black powder and old firearms. Thank you for participating in the group.