Lancaster repaired

[rickjf]

I just got my Lancaster repaired after cracking the wrist. Chuck Hinkle of Dallas area repaired it he is a master gun maker. He is rhe closest to my area (350) miles. Hw did a great job. Just reporting.

 

[jamesthomas]

Do you have any before and after pictures?. It would help folks to see the results of the fix.

 

[Dean2]

Click on the pictures to make them bigger. The first picture is a "Before" picture and there are a bunch of other pictures in the series that the link takes you to that show the crack real well.

From all appearances he did a great job, can't see the join in the pictures, can you see it with the naked eye?

 

[rickjf]

The break can barely be seen on one side. Just a line.

 

[Col. Batguano]

Nice series of pictures. It seems that it cracked right along the grain line, due to runout.

How did the crack happen in the first place?

Question; does the gun have a tang bolt running all the way through it, (anchoring the tang and the trigger plate as 1 solid unit) or was it done with just have a wood screw holding the tang down?

 

[rickjf]

It has a long tang bolt that kept it from coming apart. I took it from a closet and struck the stock on the door. It was being stored in a closet near a central heating unit. I think the wood expanded and shrank. I made a poor choice in storage. I. Plan to store it in a neutral closet barrel down.

 

[Patocazador]

How did he reinforce it so it wouldn't separate again?

 

[rickjf]

I don't know. I am being extra careful. I don't know the glue. It was a two part but not epoxy. Apparently very strong. There are no hidden pins ets to make it work.

 

[Col. Batguano]

So it sounds like it was the actual shrinking of the wood that pulled it apart? You would think that in an instance like that, that the top of the tang bolt would just loosen up a bit and make its' way out the top of the tang.

 

[rickjf]

There was enough shifting that the trigger guard was bent. The whole thing had pulled away. The tang bolt remained tight.

 

[Patocazador]

I don't know. I am being extra careful. I don't know the glue. It was a two part but not epoxy. Apparently very strong. There are no hidden pins ets to make it work.

I would call the smith and ask how much it can be subjected to. It would be a shame to have a fragile gun that you can't shoot for fear of it breaking again.

 

[hpdrifter]

Resorcinal(sp?) maybe.

 

[Mickc01]

OUCH!!! The before pictures are downright painful to look at. Glad you were able to get it fixed. Looks like a beautiful gun....Mick C :thumbsup:

 

[rickjf]

The time I first saw that break my heart sank. I still feel as if I lost a treasure. It was like having damage to a great painting. No repair can make it whole. However Chuck Hinkle did a master job. He is a master gun maker. He still makes guns but mostly he is retired.

 

[Grumpa]

I am in awe of master craftsmen and artisans who can make, and repair, with consummate skill. And grateful that they are among us.

 

[rickjf]

Where I live in west Texas those skills are rare. Mr Hinkle lives in the Dallas are 350 miles east. I could not find another closer. I am sure there are gun makers around most I have seen are east of the Mississippi . I had some gun smiths and hobbiest tell me how to fix it or offer to repair, but I am glad I waited.

 

[jamesthomas]

Thank you, I would drive 500 miles to get that fixed, but 350 is a good days driving though. Glad you was able to get a master builder to fix it for you!

 

[ZUG]

He did a fine job! If it was a two part "glue" I do think it was some sort of epoxy but it does not matter because he did a fine job. You need to find a netural ambient stable area in your house to store it for the future :v

 

[dav-az]

I sincerely hope I am not hijacking this thread but I've been wondering if storing my rifles inside a safe with a goldenrod is smart. Would the heat from the goldenrod dry out the wood and cause damage such as this beautiful rifle endured?

I live in Arizona which is not known for much humidity, should I just skip the rod?

Hope this question is related enough to keep me out of trouble here........

 

[hanshi]

I would. :thumbsup: