Lock steel

[Titus]

I was wondering if someone can shed some light for me on what kind of steel is fit for making a flint lock. Ive got a few components which I want to get together into a complete lock but I do not know what kind of steel I should use. Ive got access to a lot of mildsteel, but Ive got a funny feeling that this wont work. :hmm:

 

[Mike Brooks]

The old timers used to make them out of wrought iron.

 

[Titus]

Thanks Mike. How does wrought Iron compare in hardness to normal run of the mill commercial mild steel?

 

[Mike Brooks]

Wrought iron is dead soft. You can make your plate out of mild steel and case harden it.

 

[Titus]

Thanks Mike. :bow: Knew I would get a sensible answer here. :hatsoff: :grin:

 

[Stophel]

You can make most everything from mild steel and case harden it. You can do the frizzen this way, but it would be better if it were a through hardening steel like 1070 or 1095, which would be good for the springs.

While I have made many parts for locks, I have yet to make myself a complete lock from scratch. I have a lockplate started, and eventually I'll get around to finishing it.

I had the local machine shop make me up some "blank tumblers". Basically a 1" diameter, 1/4" thick wheel of mild steel with one shaft 3/8" and the other shaft 3/16", which I can turn to dimension on my "lathe" (chucked into a big drill held in my lap). I've made one tumbler so far, and it has worked pretty well.

 

[J.D.]

Ive got access to a lot of mildsteel, but Ive got a funny feeling that this wont work. :hmm:

As Mike said, case hardened mild steel will work well. Though I haven't done it, I have read of folks using 1/4 thick angle iron to make frizzens. I don't remember how the foot and tail were formed, but cutting and twisting one leg of the angle for the foot and tail might work, as should forging or welding a blank piece of plate on to the back of the pan cover.

The face of the frizzen can be case hardened, or a high carbon steel face, brazed onto the frizzen, can be hardened and tempered.

keep us posted on the build.

 

[Titus]

Thanks for all the info guys. :bow:

I will post pics once I start and as I go along. :thumbsup: