Re: Percussion vs Flintlock
Randy
I agree with you about quality of the locks whether flintlock or percussion, its all about workmenship if an assembled kit or a factory lock. Some of the worst locks sold early on in the reproduction field were the T/C flintlocks (bad frizzens).
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Side Note:
You may have heard of Ron Long (Long Locks), a good friend, I owned a mountainman/muzzleloading shop in Northern Colorado. We (Ron and two others) started the Colorado State Muzzleloading Association Squirrel Shoot that got the whole country interested in this event and copied by many. Now in its 44 year of being held in the same location. This is for .40 caliber or smaller rifles with many suppliers providing prices for the event, usual value of prizes from sources were in the $5-6K range. Long was one of top shooters in the world having brought home Gold in matches entered in several of the Muzzleloading Olympics events here and in other countries.
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I gave a T/C flintlock to Ron, he liked the coil spring design, did an action job on it and reharden the frizzen which improved this lock 90%. Now fast with excellent sparks. This lock was put on one of the prize rifles given to the shoot mentioned.
The prizes for this shoot was done in blanket shoot style, several looked at the T/C and moved on to another prize because of the rifles reputation. Once taken from the remaining prizes we loaded the rifle and the winner shot the rifle getting everyone's attention as how fast the ignition was.
Like Randy said its all about good ignition, after this test we would send lock frizzens to either Ron or GRRW in Roosevelt UT to have them reharden before selling them. Problem solved, wrote to several of the larger less expensive makers about the issues of their frizzens (went no where).
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Jack Gardner is a friend that worked with us when still in business (made a trade one time of Long locks, triggers, breech plugs, Douglas barrels and pre carved stocks - enough for 14 -15 complete rifles. Got back 7 - 8 rifles in the white, these guns Jack had someone assemble and did a sloppy job. Jack in those days was hard to contact and not paying attention to what was going on just before getting out of the business.
I took Jack and Freddie Harris (his stock maker) along with the Director of the DOW from MS on their first buffalo hunt - that's another story. Jack has always been a true Southern Gentleman, God Bless him.
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I have never shot any of the new TVM rifles, but have talked to a few that own them and they where pleased. They have a nice website that those that haven't visited need to at:
http://www.tennesseevalleymuzzleloading.com/ They have build a totally clean and organized operation when compared to the old firm. That's wonderful, it sure needed help at the end.
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BigCountry
Looking at some of the firms that were around when compared to those who have survived over the years they have improved a great deal making better products for their price ranges.
I have had 42 inch barrels, they look nice but make hunting harder over one shorter, I'm like you, my longest rifle is now 36 inches long. Have made a couple of custom black powder builders get upset when we cut their fine work down to a hunting length, sorry guys.
My family have been collectors for more than a hundred years of antique weapons (edged or shootable) along with household goods to whatever. The last grouping was (have had several large collections of guns) a large firearms collections numbering 400 long guns and handguns, most in NRA Excellent Condition. At my age and kids that have no interest (freekin' tree huggers) the wife and myself decided to sell them rather than have our kids give them away for nothing. It took us 2 - 3 years of gun shows to move out the last group of firearms I wasn't interested in. Keeping only flintlocks guns of NRA Excellent to Fine Conditions of 85% or better. They are all shootable flinters (we use light charges do to age of weapon and old metals used - and some are of the 42 inch or longer lengths).
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Randy and BigCountry thank you for taking part with this conversations. :hats off:
Buck