Lock Identification question

[Chris In SE PA]

I bought a used lock. It seems to be built well. I'm hoping someone here may have some information about the maker and their quality.

 

[plmeek]

I have no information about the name on the lock. If name is the maker and "1960" is the date he made it, then that tells us some about it.

In 1960, there weren't very many commercial locks available. Bud Siler first started casting and making his locks about that time. Builders often had to resort to using antique locks or make their own.

I believe your lock is one of the later. The lock plate certainly looks to be "home-made". There are some other features of the lock that suggest it was made by an individual rather than a commercial company. The lock is in the style of an English import lock, but it has what appears to be a detachable pan which is more common to Germanic locks. Some of the internals could possibly have come from one of the few commercial locks available at that time, some of which were imports. I see what could be a cast parting line on the sear bar.

The most impressive part of the lock is the cock. It looks well made and is a good copy of the "breasted" cocks common on English import locks of the 1820s through the 1840s. I don't know of anyone producing reproductions of these "breasted" cocks around 1960 on a commercial scale. Was it hand made like the lock plate and pan? Possibly.

You have a one-of-a-kind lock there.

 

[dave_person]

Hi Chris,
Are you on the American Longrifles website. If not, you should consider joining. Bob Roller is on that site and I bet he can tell you something about the lock.

dave

 

[Chris In SE PA]

Hi Chris,
Are you on the American Longrifles website. If not, you should consider joining. Bob Roller is on that site and I bet he can tell you something about the lock.

dave

Thank you.