Small Bore Flintlock SxS

[ArtS]

I have never owned a flintlock, just percussion, so excuse theis question as pure ignorance.

Was it common for period small bores to have such large lock systems? That is a beautiful gun, but it seems the entire gun is "between the hands" so to speak. Most percussions I have examined seem to have been more scaled to bore from end to end. I wondered if this is due to currently available locks or if this is a trait of period guns too.

[B. Dudley]

Originally Posted by Arthur Shaffer

I have never owned a flintlock, just percussion, so excuse theis question as pure ignorance.

Was it common for period small bores to have such large lock systems? That is a beautiful gun, but it seems the entire gun is "between the hands" so to speak. Most percussions I have examined seem to have been more scaled to bore from end to end. I wondered if this is due to currently available locks or if this is a trait of period guns too.

Well, The Flint Lock has to sit on the side of the barrels along with the pan, frizzen and hammer and all. Vs. on a percussion gun, the nipple can be at the back of the barrel and the hammer can wrap up around to it. The percussion locks and ignition allow for a much slimmer gun.

Granted on a very smaller bore gun, a pistol lock could be used to reduce the size a little. Which it looks like Jays gun could have maybe benefitted from.