Thanks guys. I must admit, I am pretty chuffed with the final outcome as I didn’t think I’d be able to reproduce the shapes etc of the hammer.

Pete4d...I might just do that mate. Just maintain the arc long enough to lay a small weld, then continue on in the same way overlaying the welds...much the same way you do when welding a thin panel into a car body. Got me thinking now mate.

That hammer looks nice!
Good luck on the skip welds. I don't think the softer wire will be too soft for your purpose and it will be easier to work.

lovely work vince

Have you watched the Midway videos on rejoining?

tikkat3 wrote:

Have you watched the Midway videos on rejoining?

I’ve watched a few of their videos mate. Larry Potterfield is a very talented gunsmith with all the best of tools etc in his work facility. Unfortunately the closest I come to his tooling is a handful of files, a Dremel with some “Chinesium” carbide (allegedly) burrs and a hacksaw.

I’m currently trying to reshape the recess in the lump under the barrels to fit the refurbed hinge pin. The two things I wish I had are a small lathe and mill....that would make life easy and allow for a perfect job.

I’m sitting here now thinking about a better way to rebuild/repair the lump and refit the recess. If my welding was up to speed (I’m self taught) I’d completely fill the recess with weld and have it machined out. I’ve even thought about cutting the recess out, having a piece machined then welding the new piece in place.

But really, I’m thinking the best option is to drill out the hinge pin mount ever so slightly, then machine a new hinge pin to fit. Cut the recess out slightly larger to fit a new solid piece in place and machine a new recess to fit. Unfortunately that as an option is not viable for me with my limited tools...and I can’t afford to pay someone to do the work.

The other thing is is it will be “modern” work on an old firearm which, to me, sort of diminishes the aesthetic value of the gun.

Oh well, I’ll just keep tinkering away and will hopefully get it sorted.

Vince,,,,just keep us posted on how the project is progressing ,,,,pete

pete4d wrote:

Vince,,,,just keep us posted on how the project is progressing ,,,,pete

Will do mate. Today is a “rest” day...we can finally head out so I’m taking my wife and daughter for a picnic lunch at a park near a beach...depending on how many people are there.

I spent some time with a few jewellers files, carefully filing the recess in the lump for the hinge pin. Gentle filing to maintain the shape and bring it down to size have resulted in a good shape that now fits the hinge pin as close to perfect as I can get it with hand tools. I couldn’t even see the filings coming off, they were that fine, but it slowly came down to size with marking, testing and working on the high spots. The action now closes tight, albeit with some effort, so maybe some gentle wipes with some 800 grit wet and dry paper to clean it up and maybe ease it a fraction.

Next step is sorting out some screws for different parts. I need a couple of lock/retaining screws for the firing pins and another screw to hold the hammer on I made. I won’t be able to make these screws...they are quite small and the thread is worn, so I can’t work out the number of threads per inch and the pitch. I might have to bite the bullet and buy screws and a suitable tap from Brownells, or heaven forbid, my local bolt shop. At least if I buy from Brownells the screws and threads will be propriety firearms threads and not modern metric.

good ho mate....its keeping you busy,body and mind.

I haven’t done anymore on my project shottie for the past couple of months...other priorities have taken over.

I have decided to buy the necessary taps and suitable screws that I require from my local hardware store. This way, at least if they need replacing they are readily available. I’ll be able to “blue” the screws easily, so they won’t look out of place.

This work will be a “fit in between other jobs”, so it won’t happen overnight, but that’s ok...I’m keeping busy.