Wyatt Earp SASS#1628L Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Took my grandsons shooting today. After the 3rd round of 45 colt , main spring broke. Removed backstrap and found this. This gun was tuned years ago by a prominent gunsmith, who filed the mainspring down. Notice the file marks? Classic stress crack due to filing across the spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 I've seen that kind of work before. How long had you owned the gun? Looks like you would have noticed the first time you took it apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Von Dutch, SASS # 7995 Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Took my grandsons shooting today. After the 3rd round of 45 colt , main spring broke. Removed backstrap and found this. This gun was turned years ago by a prominent gunsmith, who filed the mainspring down. Notice the file marks? Classic stress crack due to filing across the spring. Maybe it was not the Smith I have worked more than a few main springs and that cross file marks have the factory that made its name all over it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sam, SASS #34718L Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 I studied Springs Many Years ago when I was deeply involved in Racing Suspensions........ And That picture is a Classic Example of what NOT to do to a spring! He created a pressure point with a sharp angle Exactly where that spring failed! As you said, it did last for several years, but it could have lasted for several more if he'd just rounded out that angle, like he did on the other side of the spring..... I agree with Von Dutch... I doubt the file marks had anything to do with the spring failing. File Marks aren't desirable....... but they would have to be pretty deep and concentrated in one area to cause a failure like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Most likely grinder marks rather than file. Those should run length of spring and be more finely finished (finer grade of final stone). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Heck, the knuckle head who did this grinding, didn't even try to match the radius where the fracture happened. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sam, SASS #34718L Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Yup !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Some Smiths are even Human .... But ,,,,,, they must be perfect , Right ..... And yes the spring was poorly done ... Merry Christmas to one and All ... Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Kiowa Jones #6765 Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 The cross grind marks are typical factory. But, the narrowing could have been done better. The break could be attributed to either one or a combination of both. Either way, the last guy in it gets blamed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twelve mile REB Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 +1 to Nate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 There are gunsmiths that go through formal training and are certified. Then there are others that work as apprentice for many years accumulating experience overseen by masters. Then there are others that are self-taught. And some are only practiced at one type of gun or just stock making or metal work or bluing or AR builds - on and on. I'd venture to guess that there are few old master gunsmiths that can handle about any gunsmith task. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
45 Dragoon Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Yep, "hourglassing" isn't the " recommended " way for 'tuning". I actually take material away from the "belly" of the mainspring to thin it rather than "narrowing" the mainspring or removing from the "backside" of the spring. The belly is "compressed" whereas the back is opened up . . . !! I will narrow the spring if I need to to "zero in" but it is narrowed full length. (No, I haven't always done it this way) Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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