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At my wits end with L&R, Ideas?
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Hivernant
posted
Ok fellas,
I know that Muzzleloader has them as a advertiser and some believe to the contrary,
But, I am completely DONE with L&R locks.
I have a queen anne I got with a gun kit I put together a few years back. The lock didn't spark worth a darn, main spring seemed weak, replaced it. still weak. put a piece of rubber mat between it and helped a bit. Still sparked on and off...changed flint size / angle / type / you name it. Replaced the frizzen, still on and off....bought an entirely NEW LOCK.....Right back to square one with everything... {{head in hands}}
I need to know, if there is a replacement lock, or a way to replace this lock without a complete refit of the stock....Does anyone know of any NON L&R lock that may be close to a fit for the queen anne??
Now someone will say "Call them, they are great"...#1, I shouldn't have too and #2, I got 2 of the same lock, and parts, made years apart and they both have the same problem.
So with that being said......Any Ideas ???


Keep inside the tree line, Don't let 'em know where yer bedded. Some have less than you do and my be inclined to try and take what little ya have.
 
Posts: 107 | Location: The Soviet Socialist state of Connectitax | Registered: 29 May 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
Picture of wattlebuster
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Sorry your having bad luck with your lock. I would give Brad Emig a call and have him redo the lock you have and that way you know it will fit when you get it back. It will be right when he sends it back. Ive had one L&R in my life and it will be my last!


Nothing beats the feel of a handmade southern iron mounted flintlock on a crisp frosty morning
 
Posts: 354 | Location: Heart of DIXIE | Registered: 18 November 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
Picture of roundball
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Sorry you're having those problems with your lock.
And I am so lucky for Forums like this...when I started transitioning to long guns I had already been convinced to steer clear of L&R and go with Jim Chambers locks.
Saved me a lot of frustration as my Chambers locks have been and continue to be simply outstanding.
Chambers does make a "gun builders lock" which is the same internals but with a rectangular shaped side plate that can be made to fit various mortises...maybe that's an alternative.
You could at least give him a call and discuss.
Jim Chambers, Flintlock Inc, Asheville, NC


Flintlock Rifles & Smoothbores
Hunt Like The Settlers
 
Posts: 1867 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: 28 January 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Hivernant
Picture of Willis Creek
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Well, I must be living right. I've got four guns with L&R locks, building the fifth now. Two of them are Queen Anne. All spark well, are very fast, and never had a seconds problem with them. Sorry about your luck.


"touch not the cat without a glove"
"Much of the social history of the western world over the past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what sounded good. . ." Thomas Sowell
 
Posts: 143 | Location: South of the Arkansas, on the slopes of St. Charles Peak, Colorado territory | Registered: 25 January 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Greenhorn
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i have no experience with l&r locks or the company. i recently converted a percussion gun (my build) to flintlock. i stripped the percussion lock down and laid it on the pictures in the track of the wolf catalog. i ended up buying a j. chambers deluxe siler lock. it has proved to be the best sparking lock i have. the next build ill get another. hope this helps. irishtoo
 
Posts: 27 | Location: southwest pa | Registered: 09 February 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
Picture of SCLoyalist
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I had similar problems with an L&R. I temporarily got the lock sparking by rehardening the frizzen. I say temporarily because after about 6 months the frizzen snapped in two on me, more than likely because my rehardening job wasn't up to snuff. The lock went to L&R and came back with a new frizzen (cost $30 and about 1 week turnaround time) that has worked quite satisfactorily for several years.

If you want to try to fix it yourself and get some experience with home gunsmithing, I'd suggest:
1. Try one or two shots to see how well it sparks with the frizzen spring removed. If it sparks well, get a replacement frizzen spring and experiment with reducing frizzen spring strength.

2. If it doesn't spark well without a frizzen spring, and since you've already replaced the frizzen , look up the process of half-soling a frizzen with a piece of spring stock.

3. As already suggested, Cabin Creek offers lock tuning services. A friend had an Italian lock worked on, cost was somewhere in the $100 range if I remember correctly.

I'd give L&R a call or email even if "you shouldn't have to." Part of the purchase price was for their warranty. Put the original parts back on the lock and let them figure out whether it's a spring problem or a frizzen issue.

Good luck with it. SCL

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SCLoyalist,


Here's a health to the King and a lasting Peace. May Faction end and Wealth increase....Old Loyalist Ballad
 
Posts: 767 | Location: Panhandle Florida | Registered: 02 February 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Hivernant
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Yea, shouldn't have to sooo - waste a lot of time money and frustration not to mention bad press for the company. They can't make it right if they don't know about it.

I messed up one of my L&Rs myself, called them and told them what the story was. Fast turn around and works great. I went ahead and ordered a spare frizzen fitted while ti was there and replacement main and frizzen springs.

Will definately use them again.
TC
 
Posts: 138 | Location: Cedar Valley, Travis Co., TX | Registered: 24 December 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Hivernant
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Thanks all for the replies.
I too have had L&Rs for years prior...(7, if memory serves) Thought I would give them one more try.
I will look at the Chambers builders lock, Maybe even a Caywood lock. Looks close...Maybe a "somewhat" fit...I am happy for ya'll who have not had problems...BELIEVE ME...I wish I didn't.
To Rocklock....This is the 21st century...I have heard about their issues for many years now...I'm not the first...and I'm sure they have heard by now and it must be they wait for a return for "retrofit" or something...I don't play that game. I buy, it works, I buy more. I buy,(and buy, and buy) and it doesn't work TWICE...I don't buy anymore. "Do what you want with your scalp...." :-)
Thanks Gents.


Keep inside the tree line, Don't let 'em know where yer bedded. Some have less than you do and my be inclined to try and take what little ya have.
 
Posts: 107 | Location: The Soviet Socialist state of Connectitax | Registered: 29 May 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
Picture of captchee
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I offer Chambers , Davis and L&R locks in that order . Only a couple issues with L&R and when I called them , they made it right and did so very quickly
One was on a Queen Ann . The main spring broke and their replacement was no where near as strong as the original one .. They started for what ever reason using lighter main springs in the QA about 6 years ago . I sent it in and it came back right .
The other was in a left hand flint which I bought used . The lock appeared to have never been used . But it had been browned . While testing the lock the frizzen snapped . Looking at the break there had to have been a crack as the browning solution had penetrated some distance into the area where the frizzen cracked . I called L&R , they had me box it up and send it in . 6 days later not only did I get the lock back , but they had browned the frizzen to match as well as polished and tuned the lock as well as sent me a money order for the cost of shipping .
Do I think they are as good as chambers , Nope . But there is a reason why we used to say L&R stands for Lose and Rusty
But in all fairness , I have also had issues with a couple of Jims locks. Both of which he also fixed and sent back .
I wish Jim offered more selection in locks , but he doesn’t and frankly I get very tiered of the one size fits all Siler . So that leaves you with the L&R or a Davis .
if your lock isn’t working right , send it in .
Oh and as for Jim LMAO try telling him that you tried fixing one of his locks on your own and see what happens .

as for myself , when i buy something , i exspect it to work at least reasonably . if not , then i exspect it to be fixed . im not paying for something twice or spending my own money to fix what shouldnt need fixing
 
Posts: 687 | Location: Payette ,Idaho | Registered: 23 November 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Greenhorn
Picture of Stophel
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I made this lock a few years ago with the L&R lock outer parts (plate, frizzen, cock, frizzen spring) with Siler lock innards. Not because L&R locks don't spark, but because I do NOT like their sloppy fitting tumblers, the tumbler/sear/bridle design, and the SOFT parts. The Siler tumbler square just so happens to be precisely the same as on this lock, so, it made things easy!

 
Posts: 48 | Location: Kentucky | Registered: 02 August 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
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Two years ago I purchased a L & R lock for my Pedersoli Blue Ridge rifle and so far, I'm very happy with it. It is better than the stock Pedersoli lock so in that regard, I can't complain.

I use the Blue Ridge flinter for hunting so don't really shoot it that much or at least not as much as those I shoot in competition.

I can see where ones patients could wear mighty thin with a company after one has invested in a second lock and still end up with a lemon.

Load fast and aim slow.
 
Posts: 1726 | Location: Pacific Northwest | Registered: 08 March 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
Picture of roundball
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Seeing posts about L&R locks over the years, I wonder if the reputation is like what seemed to be the case with Elephant powder before they went out of business.
Some batches of Elephant were junk, but apparently other batches were OK.
Maybe Quality Control issues at different times or something plagued both companies...


Flintlock Rifles & Smoothbores
Hunt Like The Settlers
 
Posts: 1867 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: 28 January 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
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I am a fan of L&R locks. My Classic is one of the nicest locks I have ever seen outside of some high end originals. It is a sparking monster. Many like Davis locks. My Davis Jaeger has been nothing but trouble. Sloppy, poor sparker. I have had El Cheapo imports that performed much better. Davis would not help with the situation. The did exchange 5 times but they were all bad. The folks at Davis did admit it was bad steel but they did not replace with anything better. I put the L&Rs right up there with a properly built Siler, the old Haddaways and a few others.
Your experience is unfortunate but, IMHO, an anomoly.
 
Posts: 1487 | Location: Mountain Home, Arkansas | Registered: 08 October 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Factor
Picture of Hanshi
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I don't own an L&R lock but do know someone who does. He built a rifle and used a Queen Anne lock which he had purchased new. His L&R is as consistent as the sunrise; obviously a fine lock. When I buy something that doesn't work as advertised, I send it back for repair. The only locks I ever had to send back was a Chambers Colonial Va lock and a Siler. Quick turnaround and they were fixed.


*Young guys should hang out with old guys; old guys know stuff.*
 
Posts: 3559 | Location: Maine (by way of Georgia then Va.) | Registered: 26 January 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
Picture of roundball
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quote:
Originally posted by Stophel:
I made this lock a few years ago with the L&R lock outer parts (plate, frizzen, cock, frizzen spring) with Siler lock innards. Not because L&R locks don't spark, but because I do NOT like their sloppy fitting tumblers, the tumbler/sear/bridle design, and the SOFT parts. The Siler tumbler square just so happens to be precisely the same as on this lock, so, it made things easy!
Pretty clever...good work !


Flintlock Rifles & Smoothbores
Hunt Like The Settlers
 
Posts: 1867 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: 28 January 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Hivernant
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Again, Thanks.
I LOVED L&R locks...looked for them specifically...But somewhere they turned a corner. If I could find a queen anne that's 10 years old, I bet it would light the house on fire....But I'm sure I can't, so I'm gunna eliminate it all together.
I like Chambers and Davis AND Caywood.I'm sure I can adapt one of them somehow...I guess I just have to figure something out.
When I do, I will let you all know.
God Bless.

-Soggy


Keep inside the tree line, Don't let 'em know where yer bedded. Some have less than you do and my be inclined to try and take what little ya have.
 
Posts: 107 | Location: The Soviet Socialist state of Connectitax | Registered: 29 May 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
Picture of Notchy Bob
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I have a Queen Anne flint lock on a fowler built by Jackie Brown. I specifically requested that lock because I liked the style and did not think of the Chambers round-face Virginia lock when I ordered the gun. The lock did not work well and it ate flints up. I also have a Pedersoli 1766 Charleville which had similar problems.

I'm no gunsmith. I tinker some and occasionally manage to fix something so it works better, but I have very little free time and wanted to get these guns shooting. I sent both locks to Brad Emig, the "Lock Doctor" at Cabin Creek Muzzleloading. It ended up costing me about $160.00, I think, to get both locks fixed, but they both work very well now. They spark well and flints last a lot longer. The difference is like night and day. It was money well spent, in my opinion.

I would recommend his work to you.

Notchy Bob


"Should have kept the old ways just as much as I could, and the tradition that guarded us. Should have rode horses. Kept dogs."

from The Antelope Wife
 
Posts: 333 | Location: Florida | Registered: 24 May 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Hivernant
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Thanks Bob, Your the 2nd man here to recommend him.
I may give him a look.
Thanks.
-Soggy


Keep inside the tree line, Don't let 'em know where yer bedded. Some have less than you do and my be inclined to try and take what little ya have.
 
Posts: 107 | Location: The Soviet Socialist state of Connectitax | Registered: 29 May 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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