Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
Offline
I have a 1866 receiver which is in very good condition except for a couple of issues. I don’t think either of these issues would affect the shooting ability of this receiver. However, I have 2 questions:
1. Is it worth fixing?
2. Anybody know of anyone that can repair the alloy on an 1866 receiver?
I have the rest of the receiver parts – finger lever, side plates, hammer, etc…..
Please email me at: [email protected],if you know someone who repairs these receivers.
Thanks, Richard Pike
Your going to have to find someone that can weld Gunmetal and that knows what the hell they’re doing.
A lot of welders won’t touch gun metal. You’ll end up with a porous weld.
From TWI (The Welding Institute)
Can you weld gunmetal?
Autogenous welding of phosphor bronzes is not recommended due to weld metal porosity. However, this risk can be reduced by using a filler wire with a higher level of deoxidants. Gunmetal is not considered weldable since it is susceptible to hot cracking.
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
I have a friend that works on antique guns and he tells me stories about the issues he has welding gun metal. It is very unpredictable but blow holes was the most common.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Thank you Maverick and Bob. It sounds like this receiver is best used as a “paper weight”. It is too bad because the rest of it is in good condition. I still think it could be made into a shooter, just not very pretty.
Richard
Richard Pike said
Thank you Maverick and Bob. It sounds like this receiver is best used as a “paper weight”. It is too bad because the rest of it is in good condition. I still think it could be made into a shooter, just not very pretty.Richard
What caused it to be in its current condition?
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
The crack in the lower tang is going to be from a broken or loose stock. The damage to the front side of the receiver has me scratching my head. It almost looks like it was burned off with a plasma torch.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
The crack in the lower tang is going to be from a broken or loose stock. The damage to the front side of the receiver has me scratching my head. It almost looks like it was burned off with a plasma torch.Bob
Bob, I think you are correct about the lower tang. This rifle had a broken stock on it when I bought it. The magazine tube had been brazed to the barrel. It is amazing that the receiver free of nicks and gouges. I thought I could use the side plates, but they are thicker than my other two 1866’s.
Thanks for weighting in on my post.
Dick
Yes, both of these can be repaired. The trick is to use Bronze (Gunmetal Rods) C90300 composition which are a near perfect match to Winchester 1866 formulation and a TIG Welder. Carefully, 60-70 AMPS so as not to overheat.
I had a broken lower tang on one of my 1866s in the past and went to a local brass foundry in Richmond, VA (Brass Bed company) that helped me with the repair. It was the first time they had done something like that, so the guy left ALOT of excess material that I had to grind away and then polish on the tang, but when I was done with it, was not even discernable, I used a liquid (brass ager) to adjust the patination, along with some sulfur fumes via boiled eggs in a plastic container with the frame inside.
This summer I’m going to buy my own TIG welder and practice with it for future work. If it is still something you are interested in, let me know and might be able to help. I wish I had some photos to showcase what was done with my previous example, but cannot find them at the moment.
BobbyA said
Yes, both of these can be repaired. The trick is to use Bronze (Gunmetal Rods) C90300 composition which are a near perfect match to Winchester 1866 formulation and a TIG Welder. Carefully, 60-70 AMPS so as not to overheat.I had a broken lower tang on one of my 1866s in the past and went to a local brass foundry in Richmond, VA (Brass Bed company) that helped me with the repair. It was the first time they had done something like that, so the guy left ALOT of excess material that I had to grind away and then polish on the tang, but when I was done with it, was not even discernable, I used a liquid (brass ager) to adjust the patination, along with some sulfur fumes via boiled eggs in a plastic container with the frame inside.
This summer I’m going to buy my own TIG welder and practice with it for future work. If it is still something you are interested in, let me know and might be able to help. I wish I had some photos to showcase what was done with my previous example, but cannot find them at the moment.
BobbyA said
Yes, both of these can be repaired. The trick is to use Bronze (Gunmetal Rods) C90300 composition which are a near perfect match to Winchester 1866 formulation and a TIG Welder. Carefully, 60-70 AMPS so as not to overheat.I had a broken lower tang on one of my 1866s in the past and went to a local brass foundry in Richmond, VA (Brass Bed company) that helped me with the repair. It was the first time they had done something like that, so the guy left ALOT of excess material that I had to grind away and then polish on the tang, but when I was done with it, was not even discernable, I used a liquid (brass ager) to adjust the patination, along with some sulfur fumes via boiled eggs in a plastic container with the frame inside.
This summer I’m going to buy my own TIG welder and practice with it for future work. If it is still something you are interested in, let me know and might be able to help. I wish I had some photos to showcase what was done with my previous example, but cannot find them at the moment.
Bob, thank you for your response. I found a person in Florida that said he could repair this receiver. He also makes Winchester Barrels. I sent him my receiver, with a request for a new Winchester barrel for it. That was last March 19, 2022. I don’t have it back yet! On January 12th 2023, I sent the owner an email saying I was concerned it was taking so long. I said I was concerned about the receiver, that there might have been issues with the repair. He sent back a nasty email about how he was a craftsman and how dare I question his work. That was 5 weeks ago, and I still have heard that the receiver repair has been completed. I can be contacted at: [email protected].
Thanks, Richard
1 Guest(s)
