Reshaping case-hardened Roller lock hammer

[deepcreekdale]

This lock came into my shop the other day from a customer. It has a Roller  lock. He wants me to bend the hammer to center it on the nipple better. It looks like it only needs a slight adjustment. to the right side of the lock looking forward. I have done this a hundred times with raw castings but never with a Roller lock or one that has been case hardened. Normally I would use a heavy, soft dead blow hammer or if necessary, some heat from an acetylene  torch, then strike it to position it correctly. Naturally, I normally do this BEFORE any finishing or case hardening. Since it does have nice case hardening, I don't want to heat it up to cherry red to reshape it. I am also wondering if the case hardening process would make it more brittle and prone to fracturing.  I know the idea of case hardening is to keep the interior metal softer but with modern steels, not sure that is still the case.  Has anybody done this before?

[JPK]

I’ve straightened lock plates after color case with out an issue. The amount wasn’t much, that hammer is more than any that I’ve done. Good luck.

[rich pierce]

I have a copper hammer. I’d use that against a lead block.

[Daryl]

IF it was tempered after being "cased", it should be OK. Wonder what the metallurgical gurus will say?

[JTR]

I'll bet Bob will have the answer, when he see's this.

[deepcreekdale]

I'll bet Bob will have the answer, when he see's this.

I am counting on it! I sent him a PM as well. I was hoping someone had once done something similar though.

[Daryl]

Taylor just cold bent mine, but it wasn't cased.

[Bob Roller]

I did respond to this and the first thing I noticed was the gap in the breech/tang area and then the checkering on that hammer is not mine.
These hammers were from the Hawken Shop but I don't know if they are still available.I suggested heating it red hot and then straighten it and then when it gets cold,polish it bright and heat blue it.
Bob Roller

[taterbug]

just curious, but is that the kind of warpage that could occur during case-hardening?  Not saying that is how it happened, just asking.

[Daryl]

yes

[kutter]

File test it first to see if it is truely HARD if you haven't already.
Some Case Colored work is just that, Colored and has no Case Hardened surface to it.

If it is Case Hardened, I would not attempt to bend it the amt it appears to need from looking at the pics.
We used to straighten some warped pieces at Turnbulls with lead hammer and also wedges on certain cartridge firearms .
But there are limits and it's kind of like seeing how strong the ice on the lake is by walking further out.
Sooner or later it breaks.

It's nice at that point with Case Hardened parts to have the TIG Welder handy and the Furnaces ready to re-do everything. But that's not the fall back plan everyone has at hand.

I would first fix the mis-allaignment of the bbl and breech.
Then heat the hammer red and do any bending at that heat.
 When done any marks from the bending process (vise, hammer, gripper)  can be cleaned up .
Polish the metal and have it re-colored
All part of the job.

[JPK]

I’ve never had warpage to that degree from color case hardening. It looks like it was wrong before case.

[Bob Roller]

I’ve never had warpage to that degree from color case hardening. It looks like it was wrong before case.

I used a lot of these hammers and like the looks of them.I don't remember ever seeing one bent out of shape
and if I had it would not go on any lock I ever made.The one in the picture has a checkering pattern I never used
and it seems to be incomplete which shows hurried work..
Bob Roller

[2 shots]

looks like many things are  out of wack. judging by the gaps.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Heat it red where you want to bend it then use a crescent wrench and bend it a little at a time. The heat will soften the steel so that you can bend it. It should be OK after that. Don't try to bend it cold or you will induce fracture cracks.

[A.Merrill]

 Take the lock and barrel out, hold the lock on to the barrel, you may find the lock is not inletted right and needs to go in more at the bottom edge. That would bring the hammer out some. While the barrel is out fix the gap between plug and tang.   Al