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Tried fitting it on some guns today

Posted By: John Morris (96.241.137.247)
Date: Wednesday, 24 March 2010 2004 hrs. EDT

In Response To: Re: [Weapons] Unknown Dahlgren -style percussion l (John Morris)

I had an errand at the Washington Navy Yard so I took the lock along. The museum has both a 20-pounder bronze rifle and 24-pounder boat howitzer so I tried fitting it on both. I think it would have fit the 20 pdr. rifle if the clevis hadn't already contained a stuck pivot pin.

The lock fit the Dahlgren boat howitzer fairly well. Until I actually fit it to the piece, I hadn't realized the function of the short straignt section at the top rear of the lock. That part stops the hammer at the correct angle when it is being retracted to the cocked position.

The fitting test showed that this lock probably could have been used on either of the weapons. I still want to see a photo of a 24 pdr. Dahlgren with lock in place.

The slideshow linked below contains photos taken today in the Museum of the United States Navy. Remember to put in password "attack."

Slideshow of lock fitting tests

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