Civil war era look

[BlackPowderMan]

long story short me and my uncle were recently having a e-mail conversation. and I mentioned that I pick locks for hobby and he's really in to weird old antique things and he sent me pictures of this odd looking lock. and an even odder explanation so I will show you the picture and e-mail and
you guys tell me what you think

E-mail

(I thought I'd share a picture. This is a "Civil War era" lock. So, it is around mid-1800s, when this was used.

I think it was probably used for a large chest, which was they way they packed. The imagination would say it was a lock for a stage coach payroll lockbox. But, since they travelled by horse driven carts, it could have been used for anything. Think a large wooden chest, travelling by horse cart, over long distances, no roads. That's what I think the use of this lock is.

It looks like it got banged around a lot. If you close the latch and pound the whole lock into your palm, the mechanism will lock. Then the key can be used. If you don't wish to use the key to unlock the thing, just flip the lock over, and jiggle it. The mechanism unlatches.

So, banged up and got broken. Banged up, in order, to be broken but appear "locked," for later keyless access. [this is my guess, to explain its condition]

I tend to think it was used by a company that locked up money. The "shake to open" effect, was likely done to steal, in secret, without a key. So, I imagine, if this lock "could talk," it'd have a story, or two.

It is solid brass, so the lock is not magnetic. I bought a high-power, 1" magnet. I brushed the magnet across the lock. The brass, of course, no reaction. Inside, however, the mechanism moves; it is made of iron, or iron-alloy [steel].

I'd like to see that mechanism, because, I'm sure, it is completely simple. A lever, a latch, and a curved wire for a spring, is what I think.

anyways, something you can share with lock picking friends)

*decides to share with lock picking friends*


(only picture I have sorry)


So tell me have you ever heard of a lock designed like this or is it just broken?

[Chucklz]

It depends entirely on what your grandfather means by banged around. Most likely the lock is broken (possibly the latch spring). If the lock can be opened by shaking it around vigorously, it is almost certainly broken. But, many locks can be opened with a good hit in the right place, so who knows with that description.

[raimundo]

about the difficulty closing it, it needs a drop of oil, 3in1 oil, and it may also have the shackle sprung a bit, (loop stretched open) and this could be fixed with a light tap of a hammer in the right place with the shackle resting on an anvil, but dont' do that until you determine that it is indeed sprung, this would show in some bright metal that is rubbing on the shackle.
there appears to be no bitting on the key so its probably a very heavy spring and thats all. possibly see some schematics of the type at oldlocks.com or some such site.

[horsefeathers]

It doesnt look like the key matches the lock - key looks more like an old cupboard/wooden cabinet type lock key. No doubt it works, sort of, but it just seems a little fancy for a padlock key.

But i will pass the baton on to Shrub who has more experience with old things...

regards

[Shrub]

Hmm well i dont actually know a lot about these sorts of things, i get most my knowledge from reading up and the sort of people whoi write about old locks bore me to the point of not being ablke to read much in one go without falling asleep lol

However i can make some good guesses i think,

Im sure the older the lock is the fancier the key becomes until it gets to the early locks, in the olden days locks were for the rich and they often wore the keys around a chain on their neck or in their pocket etc,

So i guess the key could very well be original,

Its likely a warded lock without any levers, the bolt will be moved across and fit into the notch on the shackle,

The bolt will have a spring on it which could have been made by various ways but was likely a strongish one,

The movement you hear/feel is the bolt sliding back and forth as the spring isnt stopping it,

It could be assumed that the lock has been forced and bent the bolt slighlty hence its hard to lock, it could also just be gummed up,

A wire in an L shape will open the lock,

The way i see it is that you either want this lock for what it is and restore it or you can smash it up, see how it works and then throw it away,

Personally i would restore it but that would mean not fragging magnets over the brass etc,

Its very probale that the spring is broken and part of it is stuck out stopping the shackle from closeing properly,

Everytime the lock is forced or shacken it risks more damage,

Decide what you want to do with it or what he wants to do with it and we can advise more, ill be honest and say that it will be a quite skillful job to restore such a lock and leave it looking right afterwards,

As regards history he seems pretty right to me but as i say im no expert by a long way,

A good site for antique locks is Here and you may find some info on there or else ask there,

As a site here we tend to change membership quite often with oldies goign and noobs coming so its normally a younger audience so im sorry if you dont get much info through here but i hope you do