Need a new lock

[Muley Gil]

A friend brought me an old reproduction flint rifle to work on. It is a .44 caliber Kentucky, single trigger, made in Italy, from about 1971. The only other markings visible on the barrel are the proof mark PN and what looks like a half stamp of XXVI. I haven't pulled the barrel to see if there are any other markings underneath.

This rifle has never sparked well. The frizzen has been hardened several times. I tried surface grinding the face and it still won't spark. The fit of the frizzen to the lock is very loose. The lock measures 4 1/2" long and 1 1/4" high at the highest point.

Has anyone retrofitted a better lock into an old reproduction rifle like this?

 

[Sam squanch]

Sole the frizzen with an old saw blade. Roughly cut to match the striking area, heat and temper, epoxy or rivet to the frizzen.

 

[nchawkeye]

A lot of rifles from that era would have a lock from Dixie Gun Works, see if you can match it up with one on their site..

 

[Grenadier1758]

Putting the sole of high carbon steel on the face of the frizzen is probably one of the better solutions available to @Muley Gil.