Fixing my sear on my nwt gun

[RedOneFive]

I guess I should just order a sear spring from VTI but man 21+ shipping seems crazy for a part that is 7-8 bucks for most locks.  Any recommendations on a substitute or how hard would it be to make one? Or anybody have a parts lock like this lying around?..This is a gun I had got from Marty's estate (Ohio Joe). He had made a spring but it's weak at best.. I did take the side plate off and found the star stamp, which I'm told is indication of a Curly built north star gun..and the LOTT locks were on his early guns.. so that was neat to find out.. Thanks

[Winter Hawk]

Have you tried calling the usual places, Dixie, Track etc?  There's a guy advertising in Muzzle Blasts that he repairs locks, you might give him a call and see if he has an appropriate spring.  Or, retemper the existing one.

~Kees~

[LongWalker]

Dagnabbit, I wrote a reply and must not have hit "post". 

Some of the Lott locks can be fitted with parts from some of the Brown Bess repros.  That isn't going to help much from a cost perspective, as the cost for parts is about the same--but it is something to keep in mind if you need a new frizzen, tumbler, etc.

Making a sear spring isn't much of a problem . . . if you know how to make springs.  Bending one up out of an old spring (looks like this is what Ohio Joe did) is probably not going to last.  If you want one that will last, it will probably be best to shape etc, temper, then fit it to the lock. 

[RedOneFive]

I think I'll just order a couple from VTI and call it good. There's a time to be frugal and a time to realize you're going to miss turkey hunting if you don't get your rump in gear.

 I've been dragging my feet for the last week. Our "not family, but family"  an older couple that adopted us when we moved to Nebraska lost their home and everything in a fire last week. So we went out and tried to salvage some stuff.
I managed to find her jewelry and a few little trinkets. We crawled through basement area into what's left of his mancave and found some knives, swords and guns and a few important papers and pictures..

I'd like to say I would be able to just make a spring, but I won't get to it.