my first 1917 with a crack...

[Chuckindenver]

today while pulling a couple barrels,,
customer sent me a Winchester with the ears removed with a sweet barrel he wants installed on his Remington.
when i get ready to set it up, i notice a small crack.
i look closer, its cracked in 2 places, and not all the way through more like a surface crack.
ill get the ok from the owner and share a pic or 2.

Information

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[Calif-Steve]

A Winny you say? Breaks the mould, for sure. Didn't Winchester barrel these by hand? As opposed to a mechanical device.

[Chuckindenver]

oh im sure, my eyes are old, and bad from blue salts, but i know a crack when i see it,
also, notice that its the original blue finish, rifle had never beed rebuilt, and some yahoo cut the ears off.
nice early start Winchester.
for the record, iv been told all 17,s had the barrels hand fitted, not slip fitted as we all thought, fact??dont know.
this one was in well over 200 lbs. 80 is all thats needed with squared threads.
notice the locking lug ways worn, from super hot loads, or case head failure,
im thinking at this time is when the reciever cracked, and not when the barrel was installed.
17,s are only surfaced hardened, the cracks only follow the surface, and dont go below the surface.

[jjroth]

annealed, as there seems to be a semi-circle area right dead center of the photo.
Also there a D&T hole on the left.

[shjoe]

sharp eyes chuck and jjroth. without a release agent applied at the time of original barrel installation, i wouldnt be surprised that it may take 2-3X the initial clamping torque to break the barrel free. the receiver/barrel assembly has gone through many heat cycles during its service life, and may have "grown" tighter. john

[Chuckindenver]

yes,
some dingdong sporterized this, as posted.
the cracks are not likey from barrrel installation, or removal, it was cracked before i received it, and are likely from a bad hand load or case head failure.
you can see the lug ways with unusall wear.
all 17,s were annealed buy dipping in hot lead, front and rear. before they were surfaced harnedned.
contrary to popular belief, 17,s are ver soft and bend easy.
i know,,iv bent them. they drill easy, and weld like a dream.
years ago, i tried my hand at welding sight ears back on a 17.
turned out awesome, had this receiver not been cracked, it would have been a good one to weld ears on.
however, to do so , would cost more then a receiver is worth.
i did it ,to show that it can be done.

[shjoe]

good point, chuck. the bolt bearing surfaces do seem galled. interesting project, welding on "ears". did you have to use a rod with high nickle content for a good weld? i am thinking about 40amps with the correct rod. john

[Chuckindenver]

i use a gas wire feed, with 3% nickle wire.
notch the side, tack a couple places, and let it rip.
the welder i have is really over size for gunwork, but since i have other larger hobbys, it will weld, sheetmetal to 3/4 inch plate.
i welded a Winchester 1876 tang back together, and posted pics.

[shjoe]

nice clean weld chuck, minimal impurities. it must have blended and machined nicely. best, john

[Chuckindenver]

lol, i got lucky.