Does anyone know if there's any metallurgical hazzard in straightening a late model Win M70 bolt handle? It's on a big boomer and I'd like to move it forward so it doesn't wack me on the knuckle and has more of a traditional big bore look. (I'm getting rid of the damn rolled checkered ring on the knob too!) The straightening would be done with a heatsink on the root and an oxyacetylene torch to the shaft.

Any opinions?

Thanks,

PWS

from what I have gathered hanging around here, the bolt will have to be heat treated again as the acetelyne torch will kill the original treatment. I also gather a competent gunsmith can re-heat treat it- I think it only involves the area of the camming surface, if the bolt body has neen kept cool enough. on that note, there is a heat sink paste that can be applied to the body, also, and a cloth that accomplishes the same thing.

Thanks TC

I think there's enough length that I might be able to heat just the handle and not get down into the body of the bolt/camming surface. It's pretty much just to take out the kink that's about 3/4" down the handle so it might even be possible to keep the bolt body in a pan of water.

Does anyone know what alloy these bolts are made of. I assume they are investment cast.

PWS

I wouldn't do it. The Classic bolt handle is attached to a thin sleeve pressed onto the end of the bolt body. I recently examined one where the bolt handle had fallen off because the sleeve had split. The sleeve is not very substantial and is cast. I don't think the bolt handle sleeve would stand up to the abuse of forging.