Richard, I have all of the mechanical Nikkormats (also known as Nikomats in Asia): FS (meterless model), FT, FTn (with and without split image screens and with and without plastic tipped film advance levers and all with mercury batteries), FT2 (with silver batteries), and FT3 (also with a silver batteries and Ai metering and lens mounting).
I collect Nikkormats like some folks I know collect 50mm f/3.5 micro lenses.........
I have found the Copal shutters to be fairly reliable and accurate. I have given my FTn and black FT3 a lot of work. Simple cameras with nice ergonomics and not too expensive for an impoverished student back then.
I also have some of the electronic shutter versions, which culminated in the Nikkormat EL and Nikon EL. These had an expensive 6 volt battery under the mirror, which seemd to last for only a few seconds each....... These were the forerunners of the Nikon FE. Although they bore the Nikkormat name, they were really a different beast, and I never warmed to them (also they were comparatively expensive ~ twice the price of their mechanical counterparts).
The FTn was my first SLR and I got it and its 50mm lens new in 1974 when I came to Australia on a post doctoral fellowship. It had the 50mm f/1.4 S.C. lens, which has since had the factory Ai ring added and one of Bjoern's metering chips. Still a nice lens which is still used by me. This was followed by the 105mmf/2.5 K lens and a 28mm (seven element) lens. Both of these also had factory Ai rings added and are now chipped. And yes they are still used.
Like many SLRs of the 1970/80 era, watch the mirror cushions and light seals - unless replaced they will have turned into a shitty sticky black gunk by now. There is one of these seals inside the camera body that is not always apparent and which drops rubbish into the shutter blades and causes them to stick. Nothing for it but to pull the body apart and clean everything out. I have a repair manual somewhere if interested..
