Is this receiver too pitted to surface grind and polish up? I really like the crest, and the action is very smooth but I'm wondering whether I should go with a different action for my upcoming 9.3x62, iron sighted build.

I think that in order to make that action suitable for viewing it will take some hellacious work. Personally I would keep searching. There are much better specimens to be had.

I've seen worse, but unless you have a really good welder (person, not machine), I wouldn't grind it. The pitts look too deep.

Thanks guys, I'll keep this one as is then.

The action is easily repairable....I've seen far worse tig welded, graw filed and polished. All you pitting is below the wood line....sure there is some one in your area who can do this for you at a reasonable cost. Don't surface grind if you want to retain the crest or lettering....nice action!

good news bad news...
yep, have someone tig it up, but there should be a pretty good charge for that.. then grind it, and it MUST be rehardened, at least for me, as it is a 1902 action... while it may be hard, it owuld be suspect for me, and i would NOT put a x62 in it until it was heat treated

jeffe

I don't think that you need to go that far. You can just take a file to the pitted areas and then blend that it. I would not go the welding route but see if anyone can METAL SPRAY it otherwise.

In Kuhnhausen's mauser book, he states that the receiver's surface contains too much carbon to weld, and recommends peening a bit of metal in small pits instead.

Jack Belk stated the same, IIRC.

-but I see repeatedly posts about tigging up receivers. I believe you all; what is the contrary opinion based in?