Bulldog hammer repair

[john@]

Hi I just got my first antique (thanks sportee), its a nice little Belgian copy of the 450/455 British Bulldog.

The tip of the hammer is a bit chewed up, I'd like to fix it. I figure it would be simple enough to file the edges off and make it a blunt point similar to the hammer on my Webley, any comments?

Belgian hammer

Webley hammer

Both revolvers

 

[dingus]

Yikes! yes i would file it round but try not to shorten it any or it might not fire off a primer.
It should be fairly soft steel not case hardened. a file will let ya know soon enough.
I would finish it off with emry cloth or a diamond stone.

 

[Silverback]

If the steel is soft enough I would try to reform it as much as possible with a small hammer and anvil (or larger hammer in a vice) then do the final shaping with a file to try to keep more length.

 

[sportee]

That bulldog looks nice sitting beside your webley
When i had that thing i contemplated doing something with the firing pin. Be very carefuly as it is soft metal and as dingus mentioned...be carefull not to take too much off. When i shot the thing it set off the primer fine but didnt leave a very deep impression. if you take off too much it might not hit the primer hard enough to set it off.

Glad your happy with it though.
Cheers.

 

[nessy357]

A good tig welder could build that up for you.

 

[Rudy H]

If the steel is soft enough I would try to reform it as much as possible with a small hammer and anvil (or larger hammer in a vice) then do the final shaping with a file to try to keep more length.

This is what I would do. If you can use what metal you have it is better than removing it.