Is getting the lock "tuned" worth it?

[rtdoug]

Slowly getting the build together, and I have a question.
My advisor on building this smoke stick has suggested sending my Chamber's Late Ketland to someone to have it tuned.
He explained how a little spring relief here, polishing there will go a long way to make it much better.
I am in between in my opinion.
I kind of want to wait, see how it shoots, then decide.

What say ye?

Regards

 

[Roy]

Depends on who originally assembled the locks for Chambers. I have used several Chambers locks that didn't need anything done with them and some that needed a little tweaking. :v

 

[bioprof]

My late Ketland lock produces so much spark that I can't dry fire it in the house because I'm afraid that it will start a fire. They're a great lock. I don't think it would need to be tuned if you get it from Jim Chambers.

 

[rtdoug]

Got it directly from him.
That's what I was thinking too.

 

[Packdog]

I believe the Late Ketland to be one of the best contemporary locks on the market. Never seen one that needed anything to produce showers of sparks except a properly fitted flint.
Jim stands behind his locks 100% unless you do something to alter the lock. If you have a problem after you shoot the gun, then I'd send it back to Jim.

 

[LaBonte]

As far as I know ALL Chambers' Late Ketlands are sold assembled only and they are assembled by L. C. Rice who is one of the best at building and tuning locks.
As with most locks they can stand to be polished to smooth things up a bit if you choose, but it's not absolutely necessary to do even that with this lock.

 

[kmolett]

Is there any book or website that gives the ins and outs or tuning a lock. I would like to do a little work on one of my Queene Anne locks. I also would like to build one of Jim Chambers small pistol siler kits.

 

[roundball]

As far as I know ALL Chambers' Late Ketlands are sold assembled only and they are assembled by L. C. Rice who is one of the best at building and tuning locks.
As with most locks they can stand to be polished to smooth things up a bit if you choose, but it's not absolutely necessary to do even that with this lock.

:hmm:
L. C. Rice of Rice Barrel Company?
I thought Dale Johnson in Tennessee did all of Chambers lock work?
(except the Deluxe Silers which Jim does there at Flintlocks, Inc.)

 

[Packdog]

Roundball,
Liston Rice does the barrels. L.C. used to do them but Liston took it over a couple of years back.
I agree with Labonte, L.C. is the only one assembling the Late Ketland lock for Jim.

 

[roundball]

Interesting...last summer I decided I wanted to upgrade the Chambers large siler on a used Dickert I had, to a Deluxe Siler.

Called Jim Chambers and he said Dale Johnson in Tennessess does all his lock work...gave me the contact info, and meanwhile said he'd get the upgrade parts to Dale for me. I called Dale / mailed the lock, got it back in a week, has worked perfectly, etc.


Fast forward to November, I was putting a new flint in a different new from the factory Deluxe Siler that I had my .62cal Virginia built with last year, to get ready for the next day's deer opener and the full cock notch broke.

Called Dale Johnson, and he said Jim Chambers handles all the Deluxe Siler work...called Jim, and he said yes, for me to mail the factory Deluxe Siler to him (Jim Chambers). Got it right back within a few days and its worked perfectly ever since too.

:hmm:

 

[LaBonte]

Dale does all of the Silers (and maybe the other earlier style locks?) but L. C. is the only one doing the Late Ketlands unless things changed very recently.
And yes that is the same L. C. Rice of barrel fame..

 

[rafterob]

I happen to know a Gentleman that does a lot of lock parts finishing and assembly for Chambers and his name is not mentioned above so perhaps the story changes from time to time. I do know that any lock he finishes is fully tuned and ready to go.

 

Jim, contracts out to a number of knowledgeable trusted people for his locks. Yes different folks specialize in different models, which makes them specialists as Round ball mentioned. There are others that order kits and assemble them as well as supply others with the locks to sell. I wouldn't waste your time and money if it came from Jim Chambers unless you have a problem, and then I would talk directly with Jim or Barbie, before I did anything. Spend your money on lead, powder, and patch.

Bill

 

[TGJaeger]

I have a Deluxe Siler on a Lancaster and I don't think that I would spend more on it to have it modified. It is a pretty terrific lock just as it is!

Your milage may vary...