Nagant bent bolt: Welded vs Threaded? Gunsmith in AB?

[ADHDCanuck]

Alright, I see all the ads on ebay for master gunsmiths with really nice looking product but if i ship my bolt to them, they wont be able to send it back across the border.

So whats the better way to go, a TIG welded job or threaded with 10,000lb threadlocker?
This guy has a nice looking product threaded in the USA, lots of talk about "master gunsmithing" but the guy in calgary i talked to says he welds bent bolts onto remington 700s all day and TIG is the way to go.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mosin-Nagant-Custom-Bolt-Conversion-with-Hi-End-Tactical-Knob-with-Bent-Handle-/261305263370

So,

where can i find a gunsmith i can trust with it, i know its a mosin but its a smooth action 1932, single finger works the bolt. no slapping needed.

and do i get them to precision mill it threaded or tig weld it?

 

[ADHDCanuck]

my welder friend says the threaded method will always be stronger if you do it nicely and use the right threadlocker product.

advised me to take it to a machine shop, not a gunsmith.. since the gunsmiths all seem to like tig welding.

 

[jakester]

If it was me, I'd do both. The threading gives the strength and keeps the handle in place while TIG welding. Afterward, you can blend the weld into a fillet.

 

[ADHDCanuck]

If it was me, I'd do both. The threading gives the strength and keeps the handle in place while TIG welding. Afterward, you can blend the weld into a fillet.

i thought the same and asked my TIG welder friend who immediately informed me that would be insanely dangerous.

The weld does not penetrate the length of the threads, so what you have is something threaded in, then welded over top..1/8" penetrated into a third of an inch of thread.
Itd leave pollutants and contamination inside, seal it in to rot. itd also reduce the strength significantly.. and cause the welded metal to be weaker above and have room for movement as a result of heat expansion.


Too much to go wrong.

He tells me that the weld would work, but it changes the metal, creating weak points that eventually result in weld failure, especially given the nice finish work people do that means removing welded material for looks.

Makes a good argument, says if it was his equipment, he'd use the threaded method.. as proper threads with sealant (10,000 pound loctite in this case) are always stronger than a surface weld.

 

[desporterizer]

Both gas & electric welding has been used successfully for decades in this application. I am pretty sure every original mosin sniper has a welded bolt handle.

 

[Juan For All]

ATRS in Calgary would likely be able to help.

J

 

[Walther_PPK]

Cut off existing straight bolt handle, drill hole for bent handle, thread the hole, install handle with Loctite, then drill a 1/16 blind hole down through the threaded end. Then hammer in a 1/16 stake and file flat.

This is how I do all my bent bolts and they never get loose.