In an ad for a NIB Pedersoli Fronter aka Cabela's Blue Ridge Hunter the discussion started about swapping the rifle over to flintlock from caplock. One member has done this and one member is considering this option but instead of using Pedersoli factory locks, there was a question of using after market locks. Ads are not meant to be discussion threads so..., I brought the discussion over to Flintlock Rifles so other folks might benefit.
So IF we are talking about swapping out the rifle to become a flinter..., the Pedersoli locks on their Frontier rifle, which is marketed by Cabela's as the Blue Ridge Hunter, are fine. L&R Replacement locks may be a bit better, but..., they are meant for you to alter the lock mortise on the stock to accept them, and when you do that, then the Pedersoli caplock will not longer fit. The Chambers builder's lock is higher quality, and you would modify that lock plate to fit the lock mortise on the stock..., in theory, but it's also possible that you might find the lock mortise needed modification too. Neither option was meant to create something interchangeable with the factory lock, from what I've read about them. @Griz44Mag has reported in a previous post that you can swap the Pedersoli factory caplock and flintlock without mods.
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The objections about the lock on the Frontier flintlock models are not that the lock is bad. The objections are that being made in Italy, the locks can be higher cost than American made, but..., in this case I think you avoid additional work on the rifle other than removing the drum and installing a touchhole liner. Another objection is replacement parts can be pricey and can from time to time be hard to get, but..., luckily one doesn't need to replace the parts very often. The third objection is to Pedersoli's use of a wood screw, just in front of the bend in the frizzen spring, to help hold the lock in place, as the lock has only one lock bolt. A single bolt is fine, and was rather common on some plain rifles of the time period, and the reason for it is likely that Pedersoli wanted to use two lock bolts, BUT the shaft from the forward bolt would interfere with the ramrod in the ramrod channel. The result is..., that you must be gentle when removing the lock for cleaning and service so as not to strip out the wood where the wood screw fits. No matter what lock you used, you would likely not be able to use two lock bolts.
LD
So IF we are talking about swapping out the rifle to become a flinter..., the Pedersoli locks on their Frontier rifle, which is marketed by Cabela's as the Blue Ridge Hunter, are fine. L&R Replacement locks may be a bit better, but..., they are meant for you to alter the lock mortise on the stock to accept them, and when you do that, then the Pedersoli caplock will not longer fit. The Chambers builder's lock is higher quality, and you would modify that lock plate to fit the lock mortise on the stock..., in theory, but it's also possible that you might find the lock mortise needed modification too. Neither option was meant to create something interchangeable with the factory lock, from what I've read about them. @Griz44Mag has reported in a previous post that you can swap the Pedersoli factory caplock and flintlock without mods.
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The objections about the lock on the Frontier flintlock models are not that the lock is bad. The objections are that being made in Italy, the locks can be higher cost than American made, but..., in this case I think you avoid additional work on the rifle other than removing the drum and installing a touchhole liner. Another objection is replacement parts can be pricey and can from time to time be hard to get, but..., luckily one doesn't need to replace the parts very often. The third objection is to Pedersoli's use of a wood screw, just in front of the bend in the frizzen spring, to help hold the lock in place, as the lock has only one lock bolt. A single bolt is fine, and was rather common on some plain rifles of the time period, and the reason for it is likely that Pedersoli wanted to use two lock bolts, BUT the shaft from the forward bolt would interfere with the ramrod in the ramrod channel. The result is..., that you must be gentle when removing the lock for cleaning and service so as not to strip out the wood where the wood screw fits. No matter what lock you used, you would likely not be able to use two lock bolts.
LD
