Hi guys, a friend needs to make changes to a color-case hardened bolt in a Mauser-98 rifle.
The bolt handle needs reshaping for use with a telescopic sight, but it is color-case hardened.
His gunsmith has said this would require re-annealing the steel, to get the correct new shape.
Is it safe to re-anneal the color-case hardened steel? Would it cause weakness in the long-run?

That shouldn't be a problem as the case is thin . Anneal ,bend, reharden with color.

Annealing and re color case hardening the bolt HANDLE will not effect the steel enough to worry about. Annealing the bolt and color case hardening it would concern me but as long as it is done by a reputable shop I would not be concerned that much. Now that said re case hardening the steel does create some issues as you just can not reverse case hardening Over carberizing the steel will degrade the steel. I would assume this to be it's second case hardening going on it's third time.

I think i would try taller mounts or something else before i would go to the extreme of fouling up a good color case job.

Annealing means to heat the material and let it cool slowly- this removes stress from the steel and also removes heat treating done prior.

Layman's guess- heating the handle enough to bend it will nullify the colors where the heat affects the bolt- it will ruin the finish as it exists.

Heating to forge or weld a bolt handle doesn't necessarily weaken the metal. Too, getting scope clearance on a bolt handle usually means replacing it by welding on a somewhat longer handle.

I've been wrong before.

Replace the whole bolt, keep the CC'd one aside.

quote:

Originally posted by kcstott:
I think i would try taller mounts or something else before i would go to the extreme of fouling up a good color case job.

Aye

quote:

Originally posted by tin can:
Replace the whole bolt, keep the CC'd one aside.

Thanks! Two bolts would provide backup on safari, in case of bolt loss or broken firing pin.
The original bolt allows templating. Is it possible to make a second bolt easily and cheaply?