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Author Topic: Mule ear lock for T/C flint  (Read 1878 times)

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Offline coyotejoe

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Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« on: June 26, 2010, 05:37:40 AM »
Thompson/Center uses a 1/4x28 vent liner so converting a flint to a sideslapper percussion is just a mater of removing the vent liner and installing a percussion nipple. If you have a mule ear lock that is. So I built one. I designed it such that it can be fabricated by anyone with simple hand tools and material available from most hardware stores. The plate was hacksawed and filed out of 1/8" cold rolled flat stock and the internal bolsters were cut from various other types of plain flat stock or bars and silver soldered together. The hammer was hacksawed from 1/4x1" flat stock. The hammer and sear were casehardened after filing and fitting up. I would have liked to use a flat leaf mainspring but T/C chose to put the sidelock screw right in the middle of the works so I used a coil spring and plunger which just barely sneaks by the lock bolt. If I were to build another I would do a few things differently but as is, it works! ;D
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Offline necchi

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Re: Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2010, 07:39:09 AM »
Very cool, nice job  ;D
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Offline Rangr44

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Re: Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2010, 03:23:42 PM »
Joe - What were your reason(s) WHY, to convert to a side-slapper ?  (Besides ""Cause I wanted to", i.e.)

I have both rocklocks and cap guns, and have to say that I prefer the rocklock, unless the weather gets VERY inclement.

Do you find that the mule-ear has advantages over either ?

.
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Offline Swampman

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Re: Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2010, 03:55:12 PM »
Had a lot of both but I prefer caplocks.  I'd love to have a mule ear but I need a half cock.
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Offline Semisane

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Re: Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2010, 04:57:07 AM »
Hats off to you coyotejoe!  A well done and fun project.  And "because I wanted to" is all the reason you need.   ;)
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Offline coyotejoe

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Re: Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2010, 05:48:52 AM »
Yep, that's pretty much it. I was more interested in the project than in the result.
 Another "why" is because I've become very shaky in recent years and I just can't follow through and hold on target like I used to so I shoot a better score with a fast lock time and this lock is "startling fast". It is interesting to shoot the same barrel as flint or percussion and compare results from bench and offhand. Top flint shooters can turn in scores right up there with the best percussion shooters but most of us will do better with percussion and if you're a "Shaky Jake" like I've become you may find you shoot MUCH better with percussion. This particular sideslapper has a fast but light hammer fall so the gun doesn't jump from hammer impact alone.
  But mostly, it was just an interesting project.  ;D
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Offline Rangr44

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Re: Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2010, 08:22:23 AM »
Interesting reply, Joe - Thanks.

.
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Offline srussell

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Re: Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2010, 07:23:52 PM »
Quote from: Swampman on June 26, 2010, 03:55:12 PM
Had a lot of both but I prefer caplocks.  I'd love to have a mule ear but I need a half cock.
i have two mule ears with a half cock notch and one with out. cant tell you who made them just picked them up no markings on them
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Offline coyotejoe

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Re: Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« Reply #8 on: June 28, 2010, 05:11:13 AM »
Do those locks have vertical or horizontal sear movement? With a horizontal sear one can use the same fly arrangement as in standard sidelocks but then you have the problem of a vertical trigger engaging a horizontal sear. Could you possibly post photos of those locks insides?
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Offline srussell

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Re: Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« Reply #9 on: June 29, 2010, 10:29:04 AM »
ill try
[info][/info]
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Offline coyotejoe

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Re: Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« Reply #10 on: June 29, 2010, 01:47:18 PM »
Well that didn't seem to work. You can post photos directly from your computer by clicking on "Additional Options" which will open a window to browse your files. You can them click on "more attachments" to repeat the process. I'm no computer wizard but GBO is about the easiest site I've found on which to post photos.
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The story of David & Goliath only demonstrates the superiority of ballistic projectiles over hand weapons, poor old Goliath never had a chance.

Offline srussell

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Re: Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« Reply #11 on: July 02, 2010, 03:30:16 PM »
Quote from: coyotejoe on June 28, 2010, 05:11:13 AM
Do those locks have vertical or horizontal sear movement? With a horizontal sear one can use the same fly arrangement as in standard sidelocks but then you have the problem of a vertical trigger engaging a horizontal sear. Could you possibly post photos of those locks insides?
the ones i have with the half cock notch have horizontal sear movement with a flat main spring
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Offline coyotejoe

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Re: Mule ear lock for T/C flint
« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2010, 07:23:28 AM »
As an update, I took in the Rocky Mountain National Rendezvous last week. It was 10 days in a beautiful setting with 400+ camps. My shooting has been in a real slump for several years now but I shot the mule ear in eight matches and took one first, two seconds and one third place. So I was in-the-money half the time and I'm pretty durn happy about that. It really has never been an especially accurate rifle, 2" to 2 1/2" groups at 50 yards seems about it's best, but obviously that was good enough to win a few offhand matches.
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The story of David & Goliath only demonstrates the superiority of ballistic projectiles over hand weapons, poor old Goliath never had a chance.
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