Perhaps London's most innovative lock and gun maker, Mr. Durs Egg immigrated from Switzerland, setting up shop in London, the world's arms making center in his time. Actually, “Durs" was a nickname, but Mr. Egg adopted it as his own. We are glad he did. Once you have used this lock, you will never confuse the “Durs Egg" with any other. Use this lock on fine English rifles and fowlers of the 1770 to 1810 period. Patrick Ferguson's breech loading flint rifle used this lock. Better American guns were stocked around such finer locks, after about 1800, when our makers could import them.
Much more complex than the large Siler lock, yet it is about the same size. Cock jaws direct sparks into the semi-waterproof pan with rain gutters. The fancy frizzen pan cover flange seals the pan. The fancy “frictionless" tumbler and sear have raised bearing rings turned around screw holes, preventing moving parts from rubbing the plate or bridle. Sometimes called a “ghosted" lock, since you can see through the frictionless parts, when viewed from above. A fly detent prevents the sear from snagging the half-cock notch when fired. Used with plain or set triggers. Nearly as large as the left Siler lock, it will fit straight or swamped barrels from 3/4" to 1-1/8" octagon at the breech.
Notice the “cut away" tumbler and “swing out" link, which greatly simplify lock disassembly. These are fine English innovations. This tumbler has a lower arm, made to catch the mainspring if the tumbler arm or link should break while being cocked. But even if this “weakest link" has failed, this fine lock will fire one last shot. You can depend on this nice lock, in good weather or bad, to spark well. English rifles fitted with such a fine lock invariably have a flash hole liner fitted, for fastest ignition. Refer to our reprint of Henry Nock's Patent Breech patent drawings for details of original flash hole construction.
This frizzen is a snug fit to the pan. The lock plate is polished bright inside. Exterior parts are grit blasted to a matte gray. Note: This lock has had some changes introduced by L&R over the years. Very early production locks will have a tumbler with a "bow tie" fly. The frizzen screw has two variations, one with threads beneath the head, and one with a larger axle with threads at the tip. Earlier locks have a cast mainspring with the peg hole in a different location.
This lock exactly matches our left Durs Egg flint lock.
We recommend that you order a dozen #FLINT-ENG-6 English 3/4" gun flints, too.
This lock is shown at exact-full-size, in Track's new catalog for gunmakers and gunsmiths.
