Bending case hardened parts

[Roger B]

I outsmarted myself.....again.  Having refinished my Hawken to a much nicer brown/red, I decided it was time to shoot it.  I put a nipple in it and quickly realized that the hammer was off by about a 1/6th".  It lined up nicely when I fit the lock to the breech, so I didn't pay much attention to it after that.  Then I realized the problem; when I built in the forward flare to the lock plate, everything went out of alignment.  Another learning experience that I will not forget.  Anyhow, I need to bend the hammer a bit and wonder if I can do it without destroying the finish, and if so, how?
Roger B.

[kutter]

I used to have to bend and refit alot of parts working for a place that advertised 'no warpage' !

A lead hammer will work nicely on many parts, though I'd probably twist a hammer by placing the base in a vise and make the adjustment by turning the arm of the hammer instead of trying to turn the nose itself.
A piece of soft clean leather will protect the finish just fine from either a smooth jaw vise or a clamp or cresent wrench on that flat area of the hammer.

You can not bend CH parts very far w/o it showing. The surface hardening will stretch on one side and bunch up on the other side of the bend  if too much tweaking is done.
It helps to know the hardening work to get an idea of the depth of the CH but you have to guess in most cases.

There's a chance the part is colored but not hardened at all. Do a file check on the back of it somewhere to get an idea of any hardness and perhaps depth.

When in doubt, anneal, bend and re-do or touch up.

[Dphariss]

I outsmarted myself.....again.  Having refinished my Hawken to a much nicer brown/red, I decided it was time to shoot it.  I put a nipple in it and quickly realized that the hammer was off by about a 1/6th".  It lined up nicely when I fit the lock to the breech, so I didn't pay much attention to it after that.  Then I realized the problem; when I built in the forward flare to the lock plate, everything went out of alignment.  Another learning experience that I will not forget.  Anyhow, I need to bend the hammer a bit and wonder if I can do it without destroying the finish, and if so, how?
Roger B.

If Wyoming Armory did the colors call them.

Dan

[Roger B]

Thanks guys.  I bent the thing yesterday without incident (figured that it wouldn't work now, so it couldn't get much worse), but it still won't work.  The hammer throw just isn't right and I think it will need to be cut and welded before it will strike properly.  I have a Don Stith hammer and a Davis that both look like they should work, but the tumbler orientation is different on the Roller lock, so I'm off to have the tumbler hole welded on the Davis.  I'll drill it and file it to match the Roller tumbler thereafter.  Then off to Wyoming Armory to be recased.  My next Hawken will be easier    Experience is a good teacher, but she keeps a dear school. B. Franklin.
Roger B.