Siler lock

Many years ago I bought all the parts necessary to build a percussion Tennessee long rifle. Well part of these purchases was a Small Siler percussion lock. I am probably finally get going but I would rather child a fainter. Is the small siler flint dimensionly the the same as the percussion lock. The stock i have already has the lock relieved.

Lock plates are the same.
Don't be tempted to build interchangeable. Not as good of idea as it sounds.

Just for what it's worth, I have a small Siler in the first gun I built from a raw blank and damn, that's a fine lock. I was at rendezvous last weekend and a buddy followed me through the woods walk and he couldn't get over how instantaneous the lock is and I agree, it's absolutely foolproof and is very quick. I have some Chamber's late Ketlands that I like a lot, plus a number of other locks that are perfectly acceptable, but I think the small Siler in flint is my favorite. I just ordered pistol parts for my sons and they both chose Siler percussion locks, but I really wish I could have talked them into small Siler flintlocks. I may have to build a pistol for myself at some point with the small Siler flint I like them so much.

Pete G said:

Lock plates are the same.
Don't be tempted to build interchangeable. Not as good of idea as it sounds.

Click to expand...

Yup, that's the consequence of putting theory into practice. Eventually one of the locks will end up being put away.

The small Silers are great locks. Currently two of these locks are on a pistol and a tiny SMR. All flint of course.

When building my first LR {1976}, I chose a small Siler flintlock and have regretted my choice ever since. The cock doesn't retract enough in the full cock position to allow a longer flint.....so after a few shots, the frizzen doesn't toggle over. Tolerated this for a few years and then solved the problem.......ground a step in the frizzen spring at the point of toggling over and now it works fine.

Possibly Chambers has corrected this { my small Siler was made by Siler} and possibly now the cock retracts further back.....Fred

Hi Fred,
Yes, that problem was resolved by Jim Chambers more than a decade ago.

dave

The old Silers could be improuved by replaceing the scear for a North Star Trade Gun scear . Tom Fuller use to knap shorter flints for what he labeled 'Sila' locks .
Rudyard

My interest has changed and I want a flinter. So I will try to sell my small siler percussion lock and bolster and get a flintlock. I am sure mine is a Siler produced lock because I bought it in 1998. It has been stored in oil ever since.

The Siler percussion wasn't a problem only the short throw of the flint one needed the special flint ,or a longer nosed scear .Mostly its impeding the steel at half cock was the problem . Most users considered the Siler locks the best they knew and specified guns using their locks when Ide point out there where more appropriate locks available . But used the Siler since it was their order so don't argue Rudyard! .
Rudyard

Rudyard said:

The old Silers could be improuved by replaceing the scear for a North Star Trade Gun scear . Tom Fuller use to knap shorter flints for what he labeled 'Sila' locks .
Rudyard

Click to expand...

I have one on the bench right now. IT is older but I do not know when it was made. The cock is also to far forward at 1/2 cock. The full cock notch is too close to the 1/2 cock IMHO. The cock pulls back a very long distance past full cock. It does need a longer sear nose. I will make a new sear as part of the pistol build. Strangely the cock was pointing down and forward. I was able to heat the neck, bend and get that squared away. IT sparks much better with the new angle of the flint to the frizzen.