locks, thompson center

Well, here goes, I have ran into, once again a flint lock on a vintage Thompson Center that is a failure. I have seen one over 40 years ago that was the same problem. The frizzen is sloppy, the function is loose. I haven't seen any problems with the cap locks over the years.
I purchased a lock from a magazine add, I think around 1987. A complete flint lock for $20.
Not expecting much I ordered and when it arrived it was crudely made with coil main spring. I actually tinkered with it and got it working rather well. The lock was made in Italy.
It was just an tinker project so I stashed it in the extra parts bin and went my way.
A fellow bought a Hawkin, Thompson Center flintlock to me and asked me to look at it. It is a kit gun accordingly to the serial number. He had purchased the rifle new as he, like me is no spring chicken. The lock was a complete tragedy. Sloppy works, however it did spark.
I was reaching into the archives of parts and the old 20 dollar lock came up.
The lock was the same as the one I dismantled from the rifle, same dimensions and same ornamentals on the plate.
I wonder if the TC company purchased their locks from Italy. TC bragged about their main springs being coil instead of leaf.
Serial number K10528 is the rifle's age. I have found soft frizzens, occasionally broken springs and misaligned triggers on the old CVA kits, but never the sloppy works.
I have spent some time on researching where the TC locks were made, but through my limited information haven't found much.

Hi,
TC Hawkens were both a positive and negative incentive for me to start building and shooting muzzleloaders. In 1976, while home from university during summer, a high school friend brought over his percussion TC Hawken and took my dad and I out to shoot it. Pop owned a very fine double barreled muzzleloading shotgun (I've posted photos of it on the forum) and we both appreciated its fine workmanship and how smoothly the locks functioned but we never shot it. We both loved shooting the TC but I'll never forget my dad's face when he cocked the lock for the first time. He was so alarmed at how crude it felt that he thought he broke it. We were hooked and my friend let us borrow his Dixie Gun Works catalog. Dad and I poured over that book and thought we could make a better gun than the TC. I bought a Siler lock kit, Douglass barrel, maple blank, a few brass parts and McCory's little book on building a long rifle, and away we went.

dave

No TC did not buy Italian locks for their guns. The Lyman/Investarms locks are close copies of TC locks with just enough difference to avoid copyright/patent issues down to the scrollwork on the plate and with just a little work on the lock inlet will interchange. As to the flinchlocks, Lyman frizzens are reportedly better than TC and some people put them on their TC locks.

Hi,
One problem with at least some of the early TC flintlocks was the lock plate bolster did not snug up against the barrel at the touch hole leaving a substantial gap allowing powder flash to burn wood behind the lock. Their percussion guns had the same gap but it was hidden under the barrel snail. That was a serious safety issue for a flintlock and allegedly was implicated in at least one accident. Very soon a bunch of my friends who bought TC flinters in the late 1970s and early 1980s were bringing me their guns so I could inlet the locks a little deeper.
dave

bubba.50 said:

No TC did not buy Italian locks for their guns. The Lyman/Investarms locks are close copies of TC locks with just enough difference to avoid copyright/patent issues down to the scrollwork on the plate and with just a little work on the lock inlet will interchange. As to the flinchlocks, Lyman frizzens are reportedly better than TC and some people put them on their TC locks.

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Thanks a million, I have dressed the pan on the TC to get the frizzen sealed, and hardened the frizzen it a bit. Placed a new oversized screw in the frizzen rocker and shimmed the side movement. Seems to be free and tight She'll either spark or fly all to h---.
Appreciate the history lesson, Thank You again

Was there a different cock used on the later model tc Hawkens?I seem to remember some discussion about the older ones eating flints.I am only getting around five to eight shots from a flint.

cardcutter said:

Was there a different cock used on the later model tc Hawkens?I seem to remember some discussion about the older ones eating flints.I am only getting around five to eight shots from a flint.

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Yes. TC redesigned the cock and the frizzen on the later flintlocks to improve sparking and reduce wear on the flints.
The pictures below show the differences.
The Old design is shown on top. The new design is shown below it.