Moukhalla

rickystl · 30th March 2016, 06:31 AM

Hi Blue Lander.

Well, you do in fact see how the lock is supposed to work. Great. And yes, "ledge" may be a better word to use here. It appears the sear is both worn and bent. The gun was probably used all the way up until the sear/spring reached it's current condition. Aside from making or acquiring a new sear, the only way to repair it would be to heat the sear and bend the tail straight, and add a small amount of metal via small arc welding rod to the engagement end, and filing to fit. Although, as you mentioned, the ledge on the inside of the hammer may be so worn, that nothing will engage it. In that case, metal will also have to be added to that point on the hammer and filed to mate with the sear. Tough job. But it can be done since the lock and parts are forgings versus castings.
But it would probably be easier to just make new parts using the old ones as a pattern. A sharper cut could be made on the hammer ledge, and a new sear with a slightly longer engagement arm to make up for the worn hammer.
Again, during the period, these locks must have been in a constant state of repair/replacement. I don't believe they had a good knowledge of heat t eating of primary stress/wear points. That's probably also one of the reasons the mainsprings were made extra thick and strong. To make up for the lack of heat treating knowledge.
Rick.

30th March 2016, 06:31 AM	#16
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,630	Hi Blue Lander. Well, you do in fact see how the lock is supposed to work. Great. And yes, "ledge" may be a better word to use here. It appears the sear is both worn and bent. The gun was probably used all the way up until the sear/spring reached it's current condition. Aside from making or acquiring a new sear, the only way to repair it would be to heat the sear and bend the tail straight, and add a small amount of metal via small arc welding rod to the engagement end, and filing to fit. Although, as you mentioned, the ledge on the inside of the hammer may be so worn, that nothing will engage it. In that case, metal will also have to be added to that point on the hammer and filed to mate with the sear. Tough job. But it can be done since the lock and parts are forgings versus castings. But it would probably be easier to just make new parts using the old ones as a pattern. A sharper cut could be made on the hammer ledge, and a new sear with a slightly longer engagement arm to make up for the worn hammer. Again, during the period, these locks must have been in a constant state of repair/replacement. I don't believe they had a good knowledge of heat t eating of primary stress/wear points. That's probably also one of the reasons the mainsprings were made extra thick and strong. To make up for the lack of heat treating knowledge. Rick.