Hi,
I have an original Belgian smoothbore gun I posted more about in the firearm I'd forum. It has a problem with a lock I thought I would have more luck posting here about. The lock was made in Liège by George Laloux. His locks are said to be of good middle range in quality. Utilitarian, not expensive nor cheap.
The problems are two. One, it is possible to pull the trigger and drop the hammer from the "safety notch". Second is that if a trigger is pulled slowly (when clocked fully) it drops to the safety position. A strong quick pull is required to fire the gun. I don't really know if this is not normal for such period locks...
I'm attaching close up photos of the lock internals.
(sorry for upside down photos, they look fine on my mobile phone, I have no idea why they show upside down here)
As you can see the seer's tip is a bit rounded. If this was a modern repro I would've filed it and reharden, but I'm reluctant to do that with an original lock. Does anyone have any other ideas? Maybe spare parts from another lock would fit? Alternatively do you think I should just leave it be and enjoy it as is?
I have an original Belgian smoothbore gun I posted more about in the firearm I'd forum. It has a problem with a lock I thought I would have more luck posting here about. The lock was made in Liège by George Laloux. His locks are said to be of good middle range in quality. Utilitarian, not expensive nor cheap.
The problems are two. One, it is possible to pull the trigger and drop the hammer from the "safety notch". Second is that if a trigger is pulled slowly (when clocked fully) it drops to the safety position. A strong quick pull is required to fire the gun. I don't really know if this is not normal for such period locks...
I'm attaching close up photos of the lock internals.
(sorry for upside down photos, they look fine on my mobile phone, I have no idea why they show upside down here)
As you can see the seer's tip is a bit rounded. If this was a modern repro I would've filed it and reharden, but I'm reluctant to do that with an original lock. Does anyone have any other ideas? Maybe spare parts from another lock would fit? Alternatively do you think I should just leave it be and enjoy it as is?