I agree it may not be optimal, but would at least allow the gun to be timed and useful again.

Ive considered trying it with a Smith hand. I have one gun that the largest hand I have isn't quite enough to get it to time. It had a hand fitted in the past. One guy was supposed to have worked at the factory, when he fitted the hand, he filed the RIGHT side of the hand window to get it to fit. It lasted about 150 rds before it was acting the same again. It may be that the only way to get it timed correctly again will be to build up the side of the tip of the hand and work it down to fit.

Im hoping dfariswheel will weigh in with his thoughts on welding the Colt hand.