How to tighten hammer

[hortonstn]

New small siler flintlock has slight play in the hammer it seems the square hole is slightly undersized
Any ideas how to repair I'd return it to the maker but have already engraved the lock
Thanks

[Jim Chambers]

One very easy way to tighten the square hole in the cock/hammer is to lay the cock face up on an anvil, place the ball end of a ball pien  hammer (or ball bearing) on top of the square hole and hit the hammer end of the hammer (or ball bearing) with another hammer.  This will close the square hole evenly on all four sides.  If it is REALLY loose you can do this on both sides.

[jerrywh]

 Like Jim said. Then harden it after fitting.

[chubby]

You could use .002&.005 or .010 brass shim stock. I have also soldered the hammer square full,filed flush and drilled out to file a new square using old square outline as a guide. Do a little at a time for new fit!  Chubby

[hortonstn]

Thanks guys I never thought about a ball peen hammer

[ddoyle]

never thought about a ball peen hammer

I have the opposite problem, I think of a hammer every time I am faced with a fitment challenge. Granted sometimes when given a moment to reflect I default to a bigger hammer.

Jerry or Jim: Would the hammer whack be preceded with an annealing?

Would hardening the hammer after improving fit be done with a case hardening compound or with a quench (oil or water)?

300 or 400 hundred degrees F in the oven for how long after hardening?

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I made a cold chisel out of a four inch long section of a 1/4" square file.  I use it to create my witness marks when I have installed my breech, and after I have sighted the rifle in on the front and rear sights.  By placing the chisel 1/16" back from the edges of the square hole, and giving it a crack with a hammer, you can move metal inwardly to tighten the hole.  On the face, the hammer screw should cover the marks.

[EC121]

Hitting one hammer with another is a bad practice.  Both are hardened and will splinter.  One surface should be softer than another.  In the USAF I was stationed with a fellow who got stuck in the leg by a metal splinter while in survival school  when someone close by him used a hatchet for a firewood wedge and hit it with another hammer.    

[jerrywh]

 Still like Jim said. Wear goggles. I case harden everything by pack hardening. but if the hammer is made of tool steel it is not necessary. All hammer are not equal. Heat to cherry red quench, if it doesn't harden it isn't tool steel. Nobody knows locks like Jim Chambers.

[ddoyle]

got stuck in the leg by a metal splinter while in survival school  when someone close by him used a hatchet for a firewood wedge and hit it with another hammer.   

Hilarious, that must be common cause  I had the same experience when holding a splitting ax that was lodged in a wet round. My brother was whacking it with a maul. Chunk of metal made it deep enough into my thigh that the doc could not reach it with his grabber tool. Set off airport alarms for years. Must be dissolved now cause it stopped doing it.

Had an uncle in law with one eye the result of hitting an impact wrench with a hammer.