Middlesex Trading Co doglock pistol

[Sebastian Arms]

Does anyone have one of these pistols? Is it a good buy/reliable lock?

You opionions/experiences are appreciated.

http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/PDOG.shtml

Sebastian Arms

[Mad Matt]

Here's a review: http://www.myarmoury.com/review_mvt_doglock.html

Loyalist Arms carries a period doglock for $6 more. If it were me, I'd get one of each!

[Capn_Enigma]

Compared to the Loyalist gun, the first one looks - forgive the pun - butt ugly.

[Sebastian Arms]

Thanks for both replies. The 'butt ugliness' can be dealth with if the lock is reliable. I think one of each may be a good call if me fortune allows. Any other personal experiences with either of those pistols out there?

Sebastian

[Captain Midnight]

Yes, I own the Loyalist Arms' version, in .64 caliber. It is truly well made, and it's a bit shorter than the other pistol (mine has a 12" barrel, as opposed to the 16" barrel of the Middlesex pistol). I have had great service from the pistol, in short, it is me best friend...Also, Loyalist Arms can't be beat for their friendly service. They will communicate with you every step of the way until your pistol arrives, and they back up their stuff. They also sell spare parts for their weapons, should something happen to wear out on yours. I'm not trying to sway you one way or the other, but in my own humble opinion, the Loyalist Arms doglock is a better one, but I base my opinion on general looks and my personal knowledge of the Loyalist Arms weapon, as I have not had the opportunity to hold the Middlesex Trading weapon. I hope this review helps you in some way.

[Sebastian Arms]

I find that with two such reveiws available, I will be trying the LA version first.

Here's to the smell of blackpowder in the morning.

Sebastian

[sirhenrymorgan]

I just got a matching pair of the doglocks from Loyalist - the 64 caliber versions, one black, one brown. They are incredible. Can't wait to shoot someone with them.

-- Sir Henry

[callenish gunner]

they have compared two different models in the above posts as to the one you asked about loyalist calls them their english lock

i have a pair of each of them from loyalist (1615 english lock & the later doglock)....they are incredilbly light and extremely well balanced both perform admirably and they fired first time and almost everytime ...i have fired about about 40-50 loads from each one ....about 15 with patched ball with a pretty accurate result at 20 yards

i also sold a couple while in hamton in june and the fellows said they fired well

ps from middlesex you will save the import duty

[Captain Midnight]

I just got a matching pair of the doglocks from Loyalist - the 64 caliber versions, one black, one brown. They are incredible. Can't wait to shoot someone with them.

-- Sir Henry

Sir Henry,

What size ball do you use for your .64 caliber doglock, and how many grains of powder? How about for a blank load?

[sirhenrymorgan]

I haven't had a chance to fire them so I haven't had the chance to get all that in order. Our weapons master Willie and I have a date to do so over at his house. Got to love the fact that they are not considered weapons - as long as no one complains about the noise, you can fire them in Florida with no problem. They only fall under the noise ordinance.

-- Sir Henry

[historyfanatic]

I have a couple of .69 caliber pistols and I use about 30-40 grains with a roundball, and 60-80 grains for a blank shot. You'll want to use more powder for a blank because you don't have compression. With a ball you have a lot of compression, so you want to use much less powder to keep from damaging your gun or yourself. It does not take 150 grains to fire a roundball. Ask me how I know...

[Captain Jim]

Ask me how I know...

So, how do you know, and did anyone get injured?

And I don't mean to drag out "true confessions", turn this into a "stupid black powder tricks" thread or put you on the spot, but somone out there might learn from your misadventure and not blow his own (insert expletive here) hand off. This is one of the ways I learned safe gun and BP handling, by researching the stuff others had done. There are quite a few things to be learned from police and hospital reports, as well as news stories on the web.

BTW, I use 3F, 75 grain blanks (proofed to 150 grains) and 2F, 35 grain live rounds (proofed to 75 grains) in my .69 caliber. Always remember that BP grade is crucial. 75 grains of 3F behind a lead ball might be too much for the gun to handle, as the initial pressure spike would be quite a bit higher than the 2F.

Someday I'm going to buy a barrel and about 10 pressure recorders. I'm going to tap the barrel to insert the sensors in a row down the barrel and then start loading and firing, recording the pressure spike progression down the barrel for differing loads and grades. Should be enlightening.

[Scupper]

Aye. Between meself and me crew mates. We own every weapon offered by Middlesex Village. They have been very reliable for the most part. I had some issues with a lock on my Sea Service pistol and brought it to them. They worked on it for a while and then replaced the weapon at no charge. You should be happy with any weapon they have. Tell em Scupper sent Ya!

Scupper

[John Maddox Roberts]

Mates:

Do the loyalist Arms pistols come with the touchholes drilled?

I was under the impression that since they are shipped from Canada thay have to come unvented.

[blackjohn]

When I ordered my blunderbuss I got it from them (ie., Loyalist, not Middlesex), but it came via their US distributor, so no problem!

[Captain Midnight]

Mine came with the lock disassembled, but the touch hole is drilled. All I had to do was put the lock on via two screws and it was ready to fire.

[MadMike]

Personally, I'm rather disappointed in Middlesex after a fiasco with a British Dragoon I recently purchased.

The work on the piece was poor; inletting was bad in several places, chips along the woodword where the "ears" of the buttcap come up the stock, brass work incomplete with file marks and no finishing, the trigger plate 1/4" off centerline, poor finish on the stock, etc.

After I received the pistol and snapped the lock a few times, it flew into half-cock. I e-mailed Pete Plunket about the discrepancies, and as soon as I wrote I desired to return it, the e-mail's stopped (it's been over a week).

Fed up with the BS, I disassembled the lock and filed down the protruding half cock notch to a degree (although not enough to affect safety).

I plan on refinishing the pistol in the coming months. In the future my money will be going to Loyalist.

Yours, Mike

[Sebastian Arms]

Well, I have ordered both pistols and will develop my own review for submittal this fall. I have talked with a gunsmithing friend who has worked on both pieces and he underlines the concept -you get what you pay for. As far as the woodwork, I will bring it to my specs and he can handle the lock work.

Lots of powder to burn. Now to defarb my hanger/cutlass by looking at other threads.

Mr Arms.

[MadMike]

The locks on every Indian gun I've ordered (Dublin Castle Land pattern, doglock blunderbuss, dragoon, doglock musket) have been the best I've ever seen on a replica/reproduction. In this case, it's purely a matter regarding the sutler's integrity.

Yours, Mike