✅ SOLVED ID Needed-heart shaped padlock

[DownNDirty]

I found this lock today at a Civil War site; not sure if it's period or older. The keyhole cover has "Patent" stamped on it along with a makers mark that includes a crown. Any ideas as to age or where it may have been made? Thanks

 

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[Patriot Relics]

Easier to see now Glenn with the larger pictures. Your's bears the Lock Viewer's Mark. In the time of muzzle loading weapons, this marking was applied to indicate that a Lock Viewer, or an inspector specializing in rifle locks had inspected the lock for correct function, and adherence to the specified pattern. It served the same purpose on Martinis, the internals of the action body being the "Lock". This marking was found to be superfluous, and was not applied to weapons dated 1898 or later. Each manufacturer had minor variations in their Lock Viewer's Mark. These markings are detailed on the Lock

Sovereign’s Cypher

So not later than 1898, although my guess would be mid 1800s-

 

[ironhorse]

Mark looks like crossed keys and a crown
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/399306-antique-padlock-plz-identify.html
There's a link there that may help

Of its VR or GR under the crown it would be British made

 

[DownNDirty]

I found the lock in an eroded bank where I also found 6 three-ringers today so I'm thinking the lock may have been used by the Union troops. Just a theory.

 

[Patriot Relics]

Think ironhorse is on the right track, more like crossed keys. That motif has shown up on a few CW locks I've found on the web. Please post a close up

 

[joee5]

That thing is way old

 

[DownNDirty]

I cleaned it with naval jelly and it's definitely crossed keys under a crown; ironhorse you were spot on.

 

[DownNDirty]

I did more research and found out that they are actually crossed scepters instead of keys. This motif was stamped on the lock plates of guns made by Thomas Ketland (Birningham England) from 1766 to 1810. Not sure if Ketland made padlocks though.

 

[DownNDirty]

Just a quick bump in case someone has info about this. The approximate age would be helpful; thanks

 

[DCMatt]

For what it's worth, I dug a similarly shaped padlock with no markings from an 1830's lumber camp in Northern Virginia.

DCMatt

 

[DownNDirty]

Thanks Matt

 

[lockster99]

British manufacture.....style is 1850's-80's.

 

[cw0909]

it might be in here
A Gazetteer of Lock and Key Makers

 

[DownNDirty]

Finally finished rust removal and preservation of the lock. Two weeks soaking in apple cider vinegar followed by immersion in melted microcrystalline wax. Still looking for an id

 

[DownNDirty]

British manufacture.....style is 1850's-80's.

Thanks lockster-that puts it in the same time period as the Civil War. Of I'll never know for sure, but I believe it was lost by Union troops (some of Sherman's) because I found over 40 dropped Union bullets at the same site, including some within several feet of where I found the lock. But who knows?