I bought a 5906 from GB knowing that the double action did not work. I figured I could replace the draw bar and be good to go. Well replacing the draw bar did fix the double action, but when I had it apart the abuse to this poor 5906 became apparent.

Cracked Frame


Buckled Frame


Deformed Barrel Engagement


Imprinted Hammer



I’m guessing some really hot loads coupled with weak recoil springs caused the damage. I did get a partial refund from the seller, and now have a relatively expensive bag of parts.

What a bummer!

Oy! Only a partial refund?

If he sold it to you without disclosing that damage you should have got a full refund not a partial refund.

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Goal Life Member
Traveling Man

Looks like the frame was straightened out with a 3 lb. hammer after a kaboom.

Judging by the peening in the hammer slot and the camming lugs as well as the impact abutment I'd say high mileage on ****** or incorrect springs, both mainspring & recoil.

However, I think the buckling & cracking however is something else. Either accidentally or intentionally, Looks to me like it underwent the "Glock torture test" and was run over by a vehical right side up. Seriously even with a steady diet of proof loads until the thing blows up I would never expect to see the unsupported side of the magwell bent inward and only one side no less. In my opinion, that was due to some external force.

Assuming that there are no other cracks in any critical structural areas (determined by MPI or dye penetrant inspection) I believe It can be repaired. That particular alloy of steel (410) is prone to stress cracking after welding unless it heated during the process. I've see similar small work done on 410 steel using industrial hot plate to keep the workpiece at around 600°f during the welding. That will prevent stress cracking. The tricky part here is fixing the stove-in magwell. I'm thinking some method involving a thick steel plate, a few machinst's clamps, a couple opposed wedges and a bit of heat would straighten it out. Then re-inspect for any new cracking.

Personally, if I couldn't get a refund and wound up having to keep the thing, I'd give fixing it a go. It's already ruined and you can't make it any worse so why not?

Just curious, is the left side of the frame still true? And...are the barrel to slide locking lugs in good shape?

Cheers
Bill

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Because they don't make a .46

And, somewhat importantly, if it wasn't sold as "living #&@@! beat out of it," does your feedback on the seller reflect that little oversight in his description?

The ad basically said that the pistol was test fired and worked in single action, but the double action was not functional; they did not know what was causing the issue, and the pistol was sold "as is".

The seller would have given me a full refund for the purchase price if I sent the pistol back, but I would have eaten $122 dollars (shipping both ways, tax, FFL charges both ways).

…or

Keep the pistol for a total of cost of $186 and have a nice paperweight with some replacement parts for my other pistols.

The left side of the frame is true and the barrel to slide lug has just normal wear. If I had the equipment to attempt a fix, I might give it a go, but I think I’m going to use the frame as a refinishing test article.

Shame to see people abusing their firearms like that.

Andrew

I'd get it straightened and TIG welded.
I'd rather have an operational gun than an inop paperweight.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

That is one whipped 5906!

I have a high-mileage (north of 50K rounds) 5906 that still looks gorgeous. I was curious about the hammer imprinting, so I pulled it out to check. There is the barest trace of it, a single line contact area toward the rear of the notch in the frame. I don't shoot +P in mine, mostly 115gr. range ammo. So far the only failures have been a chipped extractor and I had to replace the barrel a couple of years ago, the original had degraded to scattergun groups much past 15 yds.

Does the hammer on yours show distress from the pounding? I'm assuming it's probably a MIM hammer.

I guess some people can even break a anvil.

Abusing a firearm like that wouldn't ever enter my mind.

I can appreciate that it was sold "as is", it is unfortunate this level of damage was not "noticed". Shipping would be on the seller in a case like this, both ways ( double action not working->repaired, but the "firearm" is critically damaged). Not being sent back due to DA not working, but a cracked frame. I have been fortunate that anything I may have sold, I examined first, but I would offer to give a full refund including shipping since I did not see it, and you went on the belief of a broken action bar. My reputation is too important to me to leave someone unsatisfied when they had no control over the situation. Why would you have an FFL send it back you can send it back to the dealer/FFL yourself? Good luck, Very Frustrating!! Be Safe,

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I BACK OUR BLUE

It's a great guinea pig for repair work.
Get it straightened/welded.
Have some inserts made and installed in the tops of the rails.
Practice refinishing stainless steel on it.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Looks like it got hit by a bus . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Or, a wrecking ball.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

To answer BruceB, the hammer doesn't look any worse for wear:




Here is some of the media testing I've done with the cracked frame:

Glass Bead Media Testing on 5906 Frame

That's a big difference between and 'as is' fixable gun and an 'as is' unfixable gun. I understand you feel you did ok with the refund but heck with that seller. Even without noticing the crack just taking the slide off would have revealed a number of sins.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"