What's Your Thoughts On L&R Flintlocks?

[Ohio Joe]

I only have one L&R Flintlock, the Smaller John Bailes, and I like it. For those that have the following - how do you feel about the L&R Durs Egg Flintlock?

I'm working up a build for in the Spring (2017), and just want to go with something I haven't used yet (L&R Durs Egg)...

Your thoughts?

[RobD]

i had the L&R durs egg in a .54 fowler a few years back, thought it was good, found no fault with it.  

jackie's putting an L&R queen anne in the new .62 smoothie due in to me next month, hope it's just as good.

[Ohio Joe]

Thanks Rob...

[RobD]

hmmm, been awhile, but don't remember the L&R durs egg as being "main spring heavy".  if i recall correctly, it did work best for me with a 5/8 x 3/4 english flint.

[Ohio Joe]

Thank you Rob, I appreciate the info. I'm pretty well convinced that I'll be ordering the L&R.  

[Two Steps]

Joe...I have a L&R Durs Egg on a .50cal early TN rifle.  I've had it since 06 and haven't noticed any problems with it.  It's pretty fast (and I'm darn sure not a good "tuner") and the spring feels fine to me. as always YMMV.  Good luck!
Al

[Ohio Joe]

Joe...I have a L&R Durs Egg on a .50cal early TN rifle.  I've had it since 06 and haven't noticed any problems with it.  It's pretty fast (and I'm darn sure not a good "tuner") and the spring feels fine to me. as always YMMV.  Good luck!
Al

Thanks Al, I appreciate the information. I've got that building itch, so the Durs Egg it is.  

[Mike Brooks]

I have had some problems with that model in the past, but they are fast when you get them tuned up properly. The biggest problem is the cock goes too far into the pan and the blast coming out of the vent hole blows your flint edge off or rounds it off. To solve this You need to add some material to the cock where it rests on the lock plate when it is all the way down, it lifts the flint out of the way of the vent hole that way. Inspect your lock carefully when you get it, I used an L&R lock recently and quality control seems to be slipping a bit, crooked screws, tumbler wobble, frizzen fit is bad, etc. Also get a full set of spare internals as these locks are notorious for breaking parts until you get a good set in it.



This is a double I built years ago that uses the Durrs Egg locks. You can see on the left one that the flint is now up and away from the vent hole now. These locks now are very good and very fast, this gun has won "Top Gun" on the sporting clays range at Friendship many times.

[Mike Brooks]

BTW, Have you used Chambers late Ketland yet? It is easily 2X the lock that the Durrs Egg is. Chambers quality is hard to beat and that particular lock is probably the fastest factory lock on the market.

[RobD]

chambers-siler late ketland is nothing less than Superb.  i've had them on my last two rifles, and one is going into the new flintlock "hawken" rifle.

[Ohio Joe]

BTW, Have you used Chambers late Ketland yet? It is easily 2X the lock that the Durrs Egg is. Chambers quality is hard to beat and that particular lock is probably the fastest factory lock on the market.

Mike, thanks for the heads up on the Durs Egg. I appreciate your input for sure. Almost sounds like the luck of the draw if you get one.

I will take a look at the Chambers lock, I know they are considered top notch just like the Siler locks. Glad you jumped in here. We all value your reputation as a builder. Thanks again!  

[Ohio Joe]

chambers-siler late ketland is nothing less than Superb.  i've had them on my last two rifles, and one is going into the new flintlock "hawken" rifle.

I agree completely Rob.  

[Ohio Joe]

BTW, Have you used Chambers late Ketland yet? It is easily 2X the lock that the Durrs Egg is. Chambers quality is hard to beat and that particular lock is probably the fastest factory lock on the market.

Mike, is that the Classic Ketland?

[Mike Brooks]

I'm not sure exactly what Jim calls it. When I order one I always ask for the Late Ketland. He also sells an "early Ketland" which would be good on a much earlier gun. In fact for early guns my favorite Chambers lock is the "early Ketland'.  I just built myself a deer hunting gun a month ago using the early Ketland. It's as fast as the "Late" and is super easy on flints. I have close to 50 rounds through it and am still using the same flint Jim sent with the lock, haven't even knapped it yet. Killed a coyote on the run with it late yesterday afternoon. Head shot believe it or not!. It's always better to be lucky than good!
 Here's the gun, 29" swamped Colerain barrel, early ketland lock, Iowa grown black walnut stock. This is a "stripped down" model I built just for my own hunting purposes, bare minimum of parts to get the job done.

The rest of the pics are here if you want to see them.
350 English Gamekeepers Rifle by Gunmaker | Photobucket

[Mike Brooks]

Also, for more options on later guns I have used this lock by RE Davis with excellent results. I can't remember what they call it....

Had a little trouble with it off the start, operator error. Once I flipped the flint over and used a bit longer flint it's now real fast and dependable, good flint life too.