Installing The Lock:

Bill is inletting the bolster of the lock into the stock. Prior to this we determined where the top of the ramrod channel and the bottom of the barrel channel was on the side of the stock. We also ran a ramrod down the barrel and marked on the outside of the barrel where the face of the breech plug was.  This helped him determine where the lock needed to be on the stock. 

With the bolster inletted, the plate is not laid flat and Bill then traces around the lock. 

With the tracing done, he goes back over the cuts 2-3 times. Removes the lock and then "V" cut trenches the perimeter of the lock.

With the "V" trench made, now he can use a gouge to remove the wood inside the traced lock panel area.

With the lock plate inlet to the barrel, we then put each piece of the lock in turn onto the lock and then inlet each piece into the wood. First the bridle, tumbler and sear spring.  The sear entry point was located inside the inletted lock area and a 3/8" hole was drilled slightly more then the length of the sear arm. 

Next we inletted the main spring into the stock whilst still on the lock. 

Some of the wood had to be removed on the stock above the lock to allow the hammer to move freely. 

Once the lock was inlet, we drilled a 3/32" hole on the belly in line with the sear to test operation of the lock and remove any wood that interfered. 

On the side plate side, we needed to level the stock and even it out to match the lock side. To aid us in doing this, I had him rub a black wax pencil on the edge of a straight edge piece of metal.  Then by rubbing it back and forth across it, you can see the high points that must be removed. 

Then the side bolt hole was drilled thru the lock plate and the lock plate was put back into the stock. With the barrel in the stock, we used this hole in the lock as a pilot to drill thru the stock and the tang of the barrel.  Next we removed the lock and opened up the hole with a 13/64" drill bit.  The lock was reinstalled and an 8X32 tap was used to tap the lock from the side panel side of the stock.

Bill now has the lock inlet into the stock and proudly displays his work.

Hoot AL Rifle Shop

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