I will very soon need a bolt handle for my 98 project.I have seen what Brownells has are there any other people that supply them?

I have considered just having it bent but I have not seen any good examples.

Any ideas?

I like the look of the Meier works pear shape. Will cast bolt hold up?

it's cast steel, I don't know why it wouldn't- there are much more knowledgeable than I around

the problem with any casting is you might find a defect as you are finishing it.

Check out www.satterleearms.com . Click the "gunsmithing" section.

quote:

Will cast bolt hold up?

The Dakota bolt handle is cast.....it has been used by some very professional smiths and it sure welds with ease.

quote:

the problem with any casting is you might find a defect as you are finishing it.

When castings are properly gated the porosity winds up in the gate and runner system which is cut off.

a recent post illustrated a bolt handle that had broken near the root- consensus seemed to be "bad casting"- so it's a possibility, anyway.

Thanks everybody.

Anybody have pictures of your favorite bolt that you would share.

I see most have the bolt come straight down. Does anybody give them some sweep back? On the straight down bolts do mst curve it up and out so the bolt knob sticks out more?

Thanks to everyone thats helps me.

I'm not doing this for economic reasons but for the joy of it and I want to do as much of the work on it that I can myself for the self satisfaction.

Just a note here, Tennessee gun parts now owns meier works. The bolt handles are all machined now. There were no structural problems with the cast handles. But machined handles clean up nicer.

Thanks Sooner

Do they have a website?

ok found it!

thanks

Here is one I did a short while ago.

did you mill/file a 90 degree notch to get the handle on the bottom of the root/lug?

just curious & thanks.

this is what a Dakota looks like.




But I like this one better. Its by David Miller.

Unless you are going to install this yourself, I would suggest that you tell your gunsmith what shape you like, have him show you a few photos and have him build or purchase the bolt handle for your job.

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Originally posted by 22WRF:
But I like this one better. Its by David Miller.

22WRF,
I'm happy you posted this photo as it really confirms my point that we are living in the hey day of gunsmith artistry.

There can be little doubt that the currently living gunmakers (some of whom post here on AR) are the best we have today, but further are the best that have ever been!!!

It's a privelege to see such works of art.

quote:

Originally posted by tin can:
did you mill/file a 90 degree notch to get the handle on the bottom of the root/lug?

just curious & thanks.

The action needs to be notched so the bolt will close all the way. I use a carbide burr in a hand grinder on the action.

quote:

The action needs to be notched so the bolt will close all the way. I use a carbide burr in a hand grinder on the action.

last PIA question, I promise- when you increase the depth of the notch, how do you know where to stop, so the bolt is still operating at 90 degrees, and not slightly more or less? I'm wondering about the position of the lugs when the action is closed.

again, thanks.

I stop when the safety starts working. It will not engage when the bolt is not down far enough.

And BTW-not a PITA question at all! In the big scheme of things, it was not that long ago that I learned to judge how far to make the bolt go down by using the safety. I learned that the exact same way you did-I asked soemone who knew more about it than me,

quote:

Originally posted by Marc_Stokeld:
I stop when the safety starts working. It will not engage when the bolt is not down far enough.

What do you do if the safety is out of whack and doesn't work?

If in doubt, the bolt/safety locking notch at the back of the bolt should be at top dead center.

The last one that I did had one of my twoposition safeties installed and I notched the receiver until the safety worked.