L&R Lock Finish Options/Recommendations

mehavey · July 17, 2014, 08:22 AM

I picked up a Great Plains 50/Flintlock last week and have gotten the load/ball size/patch into the practical ball park.
(61gr/3Fg GoEX, 495 ball, 0.020" Ticking/7:1 H2O-Cutting oil)

The Lyman lock is functional (but I had to pull/clean/degrease/re-lube both the lock and the double-set trigger (with the
trigger fly requiring surprising spring adjustment before it would smack the lock release hard enough.) "Rough" would be
the overall word I'd use.

With the OEM "manufactured" flint supplied, it's got reasonablly reliable (4Fg) ignition -- though with what feels like
a 1/5th sec lock delay. (Still... prints 1½” @ 50, so the barrel's good. Didn't even requirethe usual "GPR-100"
to quit cutting patches like my other Great Plains-54 percussion.)

Nonetheless, I've gone ahead and ordered up some Tom Fuller flints from ToW as well as an L&R Lock that I'll eventually
install.

The L&R comes unfinished/in the white. What's recommended as a straight-forward functional finish/process (for a
earthy practical shooter as opposed to an artiste')

JN01 · July 17, 2014, 04:54 PM

I had a custom flintlock longrifle made with the lock and barrel in the white, it developed a nice natural patina.

Grease it up, if you get little spots of rust, lightly rub them with fine steel wool. It will be a nice mottled gray color in no time.

Hawg · July 17, 2014, 07:58 PM

Laurel Mountain Forge plum brown.

**4V50 Gary** · July 18, 2014, 01:14 AM

High polished in the white.

OK, if you're hunting, you need to brown it. Laurel Mountain.

mehavey · July 18, 2014, 05:49 AM

Others have also suggested keeping/maintaining it in the white and shoot it as
things turn "field gray" over time (same as my original `61 Springfield which I've
been shooting/N-SSA'ing for 33 years)

Chestnut Forge · July 20, 2014, 05:58 PM

I just finished a rust and boil blueing job on a lock and barrel. Its not perfect but I was going for a matte finish. I wasn't worried about looks, just wanted the shine gone.

July 17, 2014, 08:22 AM	#1
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,896	L&R Lock Finish Options/Recommendations I picked up a Great Plains 50/Flintlock last week and have gotten the load/ball size/patch into the practical ball park. (61gr/3Fg GoEX, 495 ball, 0.020" Ticking/7:1 H2O-Cutting oil) The Lyman lock is functional (but I had to pull/clean/degrease/re-lube both the lock and the double-set trigger (with the trigger fly requiring surprising spring adjustment before it would smack the lock release hard enough.) "Rough" would be the overall word I'd use. With the OEM "manufactured" flint supplied, it's got reasonablly reliable (4Fg) ignition -- though with what feels like a 1/5th sec lock delay. (Still... prints 1½” @ 50, so the barrel's good. Didn't even requirethe usual "GPR-100" to quit cutting patches like my other Great Plains-54 percussion.) Nonetheless, I've gone ahead and ordered up some Tom Fuller flints from ToW as well as an L&R Lock that I'll eventually install. The L&R comes unfinished/in the white. What's recommended as a straight-forward functional finish/process (for a earthy practical shooter as opposed to an artiste') Last edited by mehavey; July 17, 2014 at 10:14 AM.

July 18, 2014, 01:14 AM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	High polished in the white. OK, if you're hunting, you need to brown it. Laurel Mountain. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

July 20, 2014, 05:58 PM	#6
Chestnut Forge Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2013 Location: Polk, Pa Posts: 123	I just finished a rust and boil blueing job on a lock and barrel. Its not perfect but I was going for a matte finish. I wasn't worried about looks, just wanted the shine gone. __________________ Every gun I've been behind can out shoot me.

July 17, 2014, 04:54 PM	#2
JN01 Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2005 Location: E Tennessee Posts: 828	I had a custom flintlock longrifle made with the lock and barrel in the white, it developed a nice natural patina. Grease it up, if you get little spots of rust, lightly rub them with fine steel wool. It will be a nice mottled gray color in no time.

July 17, 2014, 07:58 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,190	Laurel Mountain Forge plum brown.

July 18, 2014, 05:49 AM	#5
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,896	Others have also suggested keeping/maintaining it in the white and shoot it as things turn "field gray" over time (same as my original `61 Springfield which I've been shooting/N-SSA'ing for 33 years)