Studying the longrifles of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, might cause you to imagine that time nearly stopped in Bedford County, or that this region was isolated from the world. How can we explain why these men continued to make Bedford County rifles for over 120 years, much later than we might expect? How can we explain these very odd locks, with long thin lock plates and “slash” molding decoration filed across a rattail? Why would the Bedford County makers laboriously hand file and hand fit each lock part, long after other makers were using purchased locks? Perhaps the answer is suggested in Calvin Hetrick’s book The Bedford County Rifle and its Makers. The reason behind the success of any commercial enterprise is customer acceptance and demand.
Longrifles made in the region of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, are immediately recognizable. These rifles are long, thin, and graceful, with a low comb. Perhaps the customers of the Bedford County makers knew and liked this style, and demanded fine quality hand made flint locks. Or perhaps purchased flint locks would have altered the style of the gun too much to satisfy Bedford makers.
We may never fully understand Bedford County rifles. We know that rifles were made in Bedford County as early as 1776, and many were made between 1800 and 1890. This span makes the Bedford County rifle contemporary to the Brown Bess musket, the Hawken plains rifle, the Colt revolver, and even the Winchester lever action.
L&R’s flint lock captures the essence of the early Bedford County rifle, after this distinctive style of lock had been clearly established. Most photos of Bedford County rifles show percussion locks, but flint locks are known. Calvin Hetrick names several makers of flint rifles, including Joseph Mills of Colerain Township, who is little known except for his superior workmanship. All known specimens of his work were originally flint ignition.
In keeping with the late flint period styling, this lock has a semi-waterproof pan with rain gutters. The frizzen is flanged to seal tightly, an L&R feature. Notice the nice roller bearing on the frizzen, and matching cam on the frizzen spring.
Inside, the tumbler and sear have raised bearing rings turned around each axis of rotation, holding the parts away from the plate, to minimize friction, and speed up ignition.
A fly detent is fitted to the tumbler’s mortise, preventing the sear from accidentally engaging the half cock notch when fired. Suitable for use with plain or double set triggers, on rifle barrels as small as 3/4” or as large as 1” octagon.
This nice lock shares internal parts with other fine L&R locks. Notice the “cutaway” tumbler and “swing out” link, which simplify disassembly of the lock for cleaning. Always reassemble the link in the ‘S’ orientation, with the small end at top, when viewed from inside. Never assemble the link back-wards, else the tumbler will break!
The lock plate is polished inside. Exterior parts are gray matte grit blasted, ready for browning. Internal parts come close to the edge of the plate. Don’t be tempted to over-inlet moving parts.
We recommend that you order a dozen Flint-#ENG-5 English 5/8" gun flints, too.
This lock is shown at exact-full-size, in Track's new catalog for gunmakers and gunsmiths.
