HomeSmith TrainWreck: The box of sadness

[Shotguncoach]

Today we're working on an all original, numbers matching, Model 14-3 with the original box, tools, and papers.

As you may have guessed from the post title, it's not quite the treasure that it sounds like….

 

[Shotguncoach]

The insides looked much better than the outside…



And here we are stripped down and ready to be boiled. There's no need to degrease anything. This poor guy is as dry as it gets.




The frame can be saved, but I'm pretty sure that there will be some horrible pitting under that mound of rust on the cylinder.

There are good and bad things about replacing the cylinder. The good is that this gun is new enough that the cylinder is not serial numbered. The bad is that the gas ring is on the yoke and I only have two spare cylinders in that configuration. If for some reason I can't make one of those work then I'll be into a yoke replacement also.

To pass the time while the water came to a boil, I searched through the pile of spare yokes….and it really is a pile.




Here's how the original fits:




And here is the potential replacement if needed:




Right now we're boiling…..and waiting.

 

[Protocall_Design]

That's a big gap. I wonder if the frame is twisted open? A pointed range rod like we had in another recent thread would tell.

 

[moosedog]

It's a shame what some people do their guns. Years ago I ran into a model 16 K-32
in the same condition.

 

[-BTM-]

That's a big gap. I wonder if the frame is twisted open? A pointed range rod like we had in another recent thread would tell.

Hmmmm

 

[flyer338]

I guess the moral of this story is do not collect more guns than you can care for. Very sad.

 

[Shotguncoach]

I think it's just a big gap. A yoke alignment tool drops perfectly into the hole in the recoil shield. If I had a pointed range rod I would try it….

The first boil and card improved things quite a bit. It still has freckles, and most of them are going to have pits underneath. The cylinder still has big mounds of rust that are dry inside. Gentle tapping with a small hammer produced a pile of dust.

Boil #2 is in progress

 

[Fullmetaljacket]

I physically flinched when I saw the pic of the rusted cylinder. Looking forward to seeing the remedy for that.
Always enjoy your posts!

 

[Protocall_Design]

The frame could have just been machined that way. They weren't all perfect, as some would have us believe.

 

[stansdds]

What a shame, such a nice revolver allowed to sit and rust away. Looking forward to seeing it resurrected.

 

[SASFixer]

Is this handgun from Florida? I have seen many in that condition. Heartbreaking!

 

[-BTM-]

Time to think out of the box

 

[AudieMurphy]

Replace the cylinder..to remove the pits you have 2 options...build up the surface(welding) OR grind down to the base...either way your weaking that particular chamber....Just my opinion

 

[Protocall_Design]

One could turn the cylinder to a smaller diameter on the lathe. There is plenty of meat for that, but the easier solution might be a different cylinder, since there are many close at hand.

 

[Shotguncoach]

A replacement cylinder is already installed and it was test fired yesterday. I just haven't gotten the write up done yet.