G43 buttplate HELP!!!!

[nhetzer]

Ok all, now that my tears have somewhat dried I will attempt what may be impossible. I have an original G43 butt plate that a friend of mine got a little over zealous with while trying to open the trap door. He bent it, then when trying to bend it back it, of course, snapped right off in his hand. The look of utter terror on his face was enough to make me laugh and skip on the idea of shooting him right then and there. However, now I have a broken trap door. Fortunately, the break was clean and still lines up very well. It's an "overlapping" break so it is my hope that it is fixable. I have NO idea how to go about this and I have a feeling it will be one of those one shot deals. I am not a "restorer" so I turn to you all for help. So there it is. My next option is to find someone that has just a trap door and wants to part with it (I know, HA HA HA!!!!) Help.....anyone?

[jmoore]

Best bet is to find a SKILLED welder w/ a GTAW(TIG) machine. It will probably take a litle fixturing to hold the pars in the correct orientation, and may need a small amout of separation to allow for shrinkage, depending on the break. The holding fixture may not be fancy or pretty, he ought to know by looking. Take the entire assembly w/ you just in case he has questions.

Ought not be a big deal, IF he knows his stuff! Otherwise, well....

[nhetzer]

Thanks for the advice. Someone on another forum actually volunteered a trap door for me from their own collection so I am god to go on my own project. I will still follow through on getting it fixed so I can pass it on to someone else if they need it. Thanks again!

[bobvz]

Buttplate, Trapdoor

[nhetzer]

Thanks bobvz,
While that would work as far as shooting goes I'm a stickler for original design at least. I almost went that route but someone on the G43 forum bailed me out and is sending me another trapdoor for my original butt plate. Thanks anyway!