My mind would rest easier if it knew my rifle was quicker - and I think Henry probably lied about that practicing bit just about like everything else - just to keep the competition off is his tail.     

Meanwhile, I have to git on down the basement and excersize my air rifle....
Brent

You mean bolt actions?  There are levels to which I just cannot stoop. 

I guess I'd rather lose and look good than win ugly 
Brent

Fitz,
Can annealing an old action like a Sharps or Borchardt before polishing eliminate that dreaded carbon or is it too late?  I had this question on the gunsmithing thread which I think is the same as what you fellas are talking about here.  Thanks Bob Saathoff

Old Win, if your action does not show any evidence of stress or Grain growth it is probably OK. I believe that many of the older actions that do show it were Forged improperly and then not Normalized afterwards.
If you had a piece of steel that had inclusions in the material it was either forged in or cast in or rolled in. The rolled in condition was described as "Cold Shunts" The end of a bar in the rolling Mill that was connected in the Mill to the next one creating a seam. These were obvious at the Mill and were usually cut off as two foot or longer pieces and recycled back into the Mill. But some would ocasionally get through. Cast in would be much the same as casting bullets and some dross or dirty material gets caught in the pour and is imbedded in the bullet. Forged in would occur when the man handling the blank under the Hammer turned or laid it in the die incorrectly and rolled an excessive piece of material over and then forged it over so it disappeared in the raw forging. This created a joint or seam in the material. Most of these would be caught in the first machining operation when they slabbed the "Skin" off the forging, but if it was suttle enough it might escape detection. By the way I do not know of or ever heard of an action failing due to these conditions. Just that if it is very obvious and you are sensitive about looks you are always aware of it and think everyone else also notices. My MilitaryBorchardt is ugly as heck with the deep scars on it. But it is a really fine shooter. In fact the freind that owned it for twenty years campaigned it in the Military SS musket matches here in New England and won so routinely that it was eventually ruled off the line in the Black Powder Musket matches in New Hampshire so the Trapdoors would have a chance. If you have the condition a good smith can surface grind the sides lightly and it will disappear. But it may show up again if you have the action Color Case Hardened or even in a good Hot Blue. Hth, Regards, FITZ.

An interesting picture MP. Let me hazzard a guess. A Zischang Mid Range Borchardt with DST's and a take down barrel, or a damn good copy?

The flaw in the middle of the frame would appear to be what Fitz described as a fold in the metal formed during the drop forging process.

Is there any reason that you know of, why there is a centre cocking plate screw? it's usually a press fit locating pin in that position.

Harry.

Such flaws may be common,but it seems darn strange that it would be in a custom gun by a famous maker.  I wonder why he did not get another action for that sort of work?

Are there any advantages to the screw vs pin?

Brent

I believe they referred to it as “Stress fracture”, (we might call it a crack ) how deep I don’t know but looks bad, the other side looks perfect.  I have handled several rifles with the streaking on them and they all appeared, even under magnification, to be on the surface.  An x-ray of this Borchardt might be interesting; I’ve not had this one in my hand.  If I remember it sold for 10K.

Regarding the pin or screw, there is a Zischang here in town with the center screw and if I can talk the owner into pulling it apart we might learn why he used a screw.

Fitz,

Like you, I have a military Borchardt, that has been "sporterized" to .219 Zip Imp. In my case, it's an A.L.. Hartung built rifle. Mine seems to be no worse for wear as well, and  is a real shooter. Who built your rifle? I have not put a file to mine, and don't intend to, as it's in very nice condition.

Jeff