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Bolt handle Mannlicher

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13 August 2019, 08:12
Rolland
Bolt handle Mannlicher
I am still working on a Dutch Mannlicher and have a question, It has the military bolt with a round knob on the Is it possible to find and weld a MS flat handle on it?? This part of the project is a step above my pay grade.


Never rode a bull, but have shot some.

NRA life member
NRA LEO firearms instructor (retired)
NRA Golden Eagles member
13 August 2019, 08:42
NormanConquest
Yes, you can. Might involve a little hand fitting. Brownells sells the 'butterknife' handles.


Never mistake motion for action.
13 August 2019, 22:49
dpcd
Of course, you can weld on any shape handle you want.
Problem is you will have to make one; Brownells stopped selling them years ago. I know of no one who is making them. Turn on your milling machine and carve away some steel.
13 August 2019, 23:19
Rolland
That I can do "IF" I had a pattern I could copy.


Never rode a bull, but have shot some.

NRA life member
NRA LEO firearms instructor (retired)
NRA Golden Eagles member
14 August 2019, 02:12
richj
I may have a few from Brownells and Don M... checking.. they are all gone... sorry
14 August 2019, 03:50
dpcd
You don't need a pattern to copy; you look at a picture and make one like that. Free hand. That is the way I do it.
Dimensions become obvious within the area around which it has to work and fit.
Here is the way I make them; first turn a round bar in your lathe, tapered from about .75 or however wide you want the ball to be, to the diameter of your bolt handle stub.
Weld that on. Then mill the flats into it. Piece of cake. Chocolate.
14 August 2019, 08:19
sambarman338
I made a butterknife handle from a strap of quarter-inch-thick steel. I just heated and bent the strap slightly, then cut the piece to shape with an angle-grinder and files. I had no pattern, just looked at old MS rifles and copied the look. It may not be kosher but has never failed to work.
15 August 2019, 20:31
xausa
quote:
Originally posted by Rolland:
That I can do "IF" I had a pattern I could copy.


I have a commercial M/S bolt which has been in a fire and has questionable heat treatment, but would work fine as a pattern. I'll be happy to lend it to you.

PM me your address and I'll send it out to you.
16 August 2019, 03:59
Rolland
PM sent


Never rode a bull, but have shot some.

NRA life member
NRA LEO firearms instructor (retired)
NRA Golden Eagles member
16 August 2019, 19:21
Jim Kobe
I have one of those Brownell's "butterknife" bolt handles, let me know if you still need it


Jim Kobe
10841 Oxborough Ave So
Bloomington MN 55437
952.884.6031
Professional member American Custom Gunmakers Guild

18 August 2019, 17:49
Toomany Tools
You might be able to forge the original bolt handle into the shape you want.


John Farner

If you haven't, please join the NRA!
18 August 2019, 20:18
dpcd
I highly recommend against that; forging takes too much heat and stress and I have seen them ruined.
Weld, mill, file. polish.
Of course you can do what you want; I am no one to discourage any technique. I wouldn't do it though.
21 August 2019, 19:04
Toomany Tools
Not much of a problem to protect the bolt body from heat—-several ways to accomplish that. Anyone can botch a job if they’re careless and/or lack knowledge.


John Farner

If you haven't, please join the NRA!
23 August 2019, 01:35
Michael Robinson
Here's a good pattern to follow:

M-S


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
28 August 2019, 06:42
Atkinson
Shop around you can find one that just needs to be tigged on..NECG probably still makes them..Advertise for one here on AR classified..I would bother making one, that's for sure since they sell for about $6.00.


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
28 August 2019, 06:59
dpcd
They might have sold for $6 in 1960, but now they are $42; look on that big on line auction site; there is a guy making them now.
28 August 2019, 18:45
Jim Kobe
quote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
They might have sold for $6 in 1960, but now they are $42; look on that big on line auction site; there is a guy making them now.


And I just offered one to a guy on here for $20 and he said it was "not in his price range"


Jim Kobe
10841 Oxborough Ave So
Bloomington MN 55437
952.884.6031
Professional member American Custom Gunmakers Guild