1917 possible cracked receiver

[Sweeney]

I just got an all correct Remington 1917. While inspecting it I discovered what appears to be a crack in the receiver ring at the 7 o'clock position. I need to confirm if it is actually a crack.
My question; if this is indeed a crack, can it be successfully welded/repaired to be safe to fire?
I know how to weld such a crack... notching, welding, etc.
Thanks,

Information

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[Calif-Steve]

See if your local machine shop can magnaflux it for you. If it is cracked, it becomes a paperweight. One more thing, can you return it?

[Sweeney]

I'm going to hand it over the Mitch Mateiko (Brookfield Precision Tool) to look at it. I can return it for a full refund if need be.

[Chuckindenver]

you can use lighter fliud, dribble some one the surface, whipe it off with a paper towl, if it has a crack it will stay in the crack...no it cant be repaired...sad to say. post a picture if you would, id like to save it in my picture log..

[Sweeney]

Chuck, sorry this took so long... been away from the forum for a while and missed your post. The rifle has been returned an I got a really nice, all matching Eddystone from the same seller. The Eddy is the real deal unlike the Remington which turned out to be poorly assembled from parts. The stock was an aftermarket, the barrel was not clocked properly along with the cracked receiver. It had also been bead blasted and re-blued.
The crack...

[Calif-Steve]

"It had been bead blasted and re-blued." ??? Say what? Like the seller never noticed that crack? Gosh, what a wreck. If you had fired it in that condition things may have gotten interesting. Good thing we all have two eyes, might just lose one.

[Chuckindenver]

likely youd be fine shooting it even with a crack, would i do it??no...not from a safety point...from a driving a moped point...real cool till your buddies see it.
i can see that crack a mile away...salts blead out is a givaway.
it still amazes me that people have such a tough time installing a barrel on these rifles..i have yet to have an issue with one.. the last few have been pretty easy actually, last one wasnt even 20 pounds..came apart easy...im sure that i just jinsked myself...and the next 20 will kick my ars..glad the seller made the deal right...
Badger? can we have a sticky for a list of cracked 17 and 14 actions???seems a few have been coming out of the woodwork lately...would hate to see out members get bit by a rifle thats been listed as trash.:}

[Sweeney]

I felt that it was fine to shoot and Mitch confirmed that thought. If I had kept it I would have machined a 'v' groove over the crack and TIG welded it. I would have removed the barrel and made a heat sink assembly to do it. The rifle had too many other issues so I felt it best to exchange as I did.
The seller states that these rifles are sold as collectors and explained to me that they don't inspect them more than a visual for their descriptions. The rifle had been deliberately 'doctored' to appear old and authentic. The thorough cleaning and break down I gave it revealed the problems. I'm confident this wasn't done by the seller, rather, he got taken on this one.
The replacement is in outstanding condition and is authentic. A friend of mine got a very nice Winchester 1917 from the same seller and is very happy with it.
MY Eddy.... crack free!


As far as people cracking the receivers on these, improper tools and/or technique is far easier to employ than doing it one of the right ways...

[jmoore]

If I had kept it I would have machined a 'v' groove over the crack and TIG welded it.

Poor practice in a load bearing structure unless proper pre- and post heated to minimize stress and proper re-heat treatment of the entire area, as there WILL be a glass hard area just outside the welded zone.

If anything was to be done, the easiest would have been to have drilled a hole at the end of the crack to retard further crack propagation, if any. Best done before "v-ing" out for welding , too. But, again, welds in this area are not to be recommended. Might not fail, but if it does....

Stop crack holes are standard practice for my shop, which deals with much more potentially dangerous items than firearms...But there are proper engineering approvals required beforehand and process specifications to follow - every time!

[Chuckindenver]

i wont weld on the threaded area of an receiver ring. likely they will be fine for many years, however, 17,s are known for case head failures, hate to see what that crack would do in that event.
like many urban myths, they wont just fail at the drop of a hat,,,its how they handle a failure..AE: Single heat treat 03,s SMLE,s Cast made actions ect..
bore ubstruction. headspace issue, over or under loaded..ect. all can make a weapon fail.