The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

The screws running through the stock from the lock plate to the side plate were called nails.

I must say that is one crude lock - Looks like it was made by an African blacksmith on an off day.

P53 Locks were secured with two nails to the side plate.

Any chance of a photo of the side plate?

Looks to me like someone tried to force fit a lock to the musket, probably just for cosmetic reasons of wall hanging.

No doubt all the parts are genuine as we see them but genuine to what?

Hi 1066, it looks just like one of the Konyak Naga videos, that you kindly gave me the link to
It is one of the reasons that I think this is genuine, anyone else would have made a far better attempt given the time, unless it was the result of ‘mass production’ i.e. for some war effort

Dromia, excuse my ignorance, not sure what you mean by side plate, is it not the two photos above that I am calling the ‘lock’?
Thank you

The side plates are on the other side of the stock from the lock, they are recessed into the wood to hold the slotted head of the nails. The nails go through the stock and screw into the lock.

Thank you for the explanation, every day is a 'school day' for me

Don't forget we are talking about a very crude copy, the side plate is blank