How To Repair a Broken Tang

[@dogbone1358]

You’re too modest Mark. Skill is not even a strong enough word for your abilities. Really enjoyed watching the process of fixing that upper tang! The video was over before I knew it. I wanted more. Thanks.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks! This is a stressful repair to make. If I screw it up, I've ruined a receiver. I'm happy that this one turned out.

[@jeffreygraf3358]

Glad it was raining. Put some much needed water in the ground and I got to see some interesting and very well done gunsmithing. Win, win!

[@shooter3083]

I sure wish my hands were as steady as yours are, my friend. Unfortunately, 78 years have taken their toll. It's easy to see that you take a great deal of pride in your craftsmanship, as well you should. I truly enjoy watching you bring those fine old rifles and handguns back to life again. Your channel and it's wonderful content has become a definite favorite. I look forward to your next upload. I thank you.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks so much for watching our channel!

[@timkaldahl]

Enjoyed this very much. Glad you're getting some moisture. We need a lot more here too.

[@WilliamJohnson-g6z]

I always learn something when I watch your channel. You are truly an artist with your gunsmithing.

[@wilberfifer5563]

Thanks Mark, Excellent work. That rain will make it Green up nice.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Yes it will. We woke up to snow on the ground this morning, too.

[@jeffallen6754]

I’ve done only a small amount of gun smithing however I have thirty years of tig welding. You did a fine job on that tang.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks a bunch, Jeff! I don't tig weld consistently enough to keep sharp. Whenever I have some welding to do, I save up several projects and do them all at once. Beforehand, I weld up quite a few scrap pieces just to get a feel for it again.

[@terryqueen3233]

I'm not a gunsmith but I do enjoy watching you do intricate stuff because you explain things in layman's terms that just about anybody could understand. So thanks for the video I do enjoy these repair videos but I also enjoy the shooting ones also. Thanks for the video have a great day and stay safe and keep your powder dry!

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks, Terry!

[@drummer0864]

This one of your best video's, right up to where you didn't give us close-up of the finish polish and blueing. Then what you did to the stock and what that looked like before and after you put it together. Great job though

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks. You'll just have to wait for the episodes on polishing, bluing and stock repair, though. This episode was intended to show how to weld up a tang and not an episode on the entire restoration.

[@chrischiampo7647]

Really Awesome Job Mark 😀😊😊😀

[@titanbluestreak8709]

Nice work Mark. Well done....and a big 👍on the rain!

[@thecinnabar8442]

You bet, Mark! And snow on the ground this morning.

[@49walker44]

Great video, glad your showing what it takes to be a serious gunsmith, not only a great deal of quality tools but more importantly how you use them. No wonder you're swamped. Thanks for your work.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks Frank!

[@jaysynness6515]

That's some intricate work , Mark ! Good job ! Thanks again .Send some rain this-a-way .

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks, Jay! We actually have a couple of inches of snow on the ground this morning. The moisture this spring has been a godsend. Hope you get some soon.

[@jamesparlane9289]

And that's the way it is. It was a really interesting video.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks James!

[@frankwrogg2515]

Nice work, I would have liked to see the bluing touch up also.

[@thecinnabar8442]

In this case, I applied some Brownell's Dicropan. The customer is undecided about whether to go forward with a full restoration, including slow rust blue.

[@wendyjines160]

Nice work. enjoyed the video.

[@chrisevansgunshorsesranchi699]

You are a stud Mark. Love your videos I still can't believe how many cool winchesters you get your hands on. Keep the great videos coming.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks, Chris! I'm having a pretty good time.

[@perrypappous7617]

I learned a lot about welding and the design of the 1895 at the tang. Somehow, I think the luck to which you keep referring is skill compounded by a huge amount of experience. I enjoy how appreciative you are of these firearms. Perry Pappous, So Cal.

[@ChadwickMoran]

Nice work. Would love to hear more about your background and how you got into gunsmithing.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks! Sounds like a great idea for a future episode.

[@glenpick1]

Cannot get enough of these expert gunsmithing videos - very much appreciate you taking the time to share these. Whilst laypeople like myself would never attempt a repair such as this - you very much bring to the viewer an appreciation to the time & expertise involved. Thanks again

[@thecinnabar8442]

You're very welcome!

[@samtruesdale6348]

Very timely, thank you for posting. I'm looking at buying a .38-55 src that has been brazed at the tang.

[@gregf5852]

Great job

[@mikemccollum4521]

Thank you. Very very informative

[@johnkizziah108]

I've been welding for gun smiths for years. Love to weld on stuff that makes my brain itch.

[@PaulA-rv4ic]

Old world craftsmanship with modern tooling, and a sure enough craftsman doing the work. You make it look easy. But, with a background in welding and gun repair I can appreciate the difficulty in making that repair. Top shelf work Mark.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks Paul. It's definitely a tough repair to do properly. I just did this same repair on an 1894 yesterday that had been welded many years ago and failed. Having to remove the porous old weld and start over made it a doubly tough repair. If I'd realized it had a previous repair I probably wouldn't have taken it on, but it turned out really good.

[@PaulA-rv4ic]

@@thecinnabar8442 It’s always a chore correcting someone else’s “repair” isn’t it. Folks need to know when they’re in over their head. Wasn’t it Clint Eastwood that said “A man’s got to know his limitations” Love your channel. Keep up the stellar work my friend.

[@charliecharlie58]

Informative as always.

[@usnchief1339]

Mark, I just love your passion and work ethics. Thanks for keeping the interest in these old guns strong. With all of the gun fear and laws this administration is driving into society, I have a feeling that there will be a growing interest in these old guns again.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks Chief! I think you're right about the growing interest in these older guns.

[@jeffreygraf3358]

Not blind luck. Skill. Well done!

[@D989501L]

Nice to see you again Mark. Beautiful job, lovely rifle. Regards Richard 🇬🇧

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks, Richard!

[@jazbuilding]

Thanks for taking the time to make an excellent video. The pace, detail and explanation were right at my level and I enjoyed watching your skill and craftsmanship (luck?).

[@johnnyholland8765]

I did a lot of tig welding of aircraft and missile parts in my aerospace career. Just retired in Jan. after 36 years. We used Miller welders with a .040 tungsten and .030 dia filler rods. A lot of stainless and aluminum some titanium and inconell in the mix. You did an excellent job of heat and stress management. If you tie it down it can't move. You're pretty steady too. That weld is probably stronger than the parent metal. Good job...

[@donaldharrison3031]

Mark your work is impressive. That is a very tricky fix and you pulled it off beautifully. Quality work for sure!

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks Donald! It's not my favorite repair to do. A screwup means I've ruined a receiver. I'm happy this one turned out good.

[@gd198070]

Excellent work and a very informative video. Fortunately I don't have any firearms needing that level of repair but its good to know this kind of expertise is out there

[@billwessels207]

An excellent, very enjoyable video. Thank you very much, Sir!

[@thecinnabar8442]

You're very welcome, Bill!

[@lennemoy1971]

Love the videos. I’m so envious, you get to hold, shoot, and work on all the rifles I love. Keep it up.

[@errolpoxleitner9586]

Very good repair thanks.

[@peterconnan5631]

Thank you for another great informative video. Happy trails!

[@millcreekrange]

When you’re good, you’re just that good!! 👍👍

[@daveclemons1225]

I sure liked watching this video! Very informative. How cool is that, bringing an old classic back to life! One of my favorites, even if there was no shooting or scenery involved! Thanks for taking the time to make this video! Great job!!

[@thecinnabar8442]

You're welcome! Glad you liked it.

[@SixRoundsStudio]

Nicely done!!

[@beefcakes27]

Nice work saving that old guy..

[@drews4685]

Very interesting stuff 👍

[@richardhutchinson4016]

Thanks for another cool video, always learn a lot from your work.

[@milesh.1125]

Thanks for the video

[@johnmollet2637]

Nice job on a classic rifle! Thanks for showing us how to make that repair. I don't think I would have come up with the spacer idea, I'll definitely remember that one.

[@djy0tub3r]

Beautiful work. Keep up the videos!

[@cariboupetepeterson3711]

Great video!!

[@johncrimi4397]

amazing work.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks a lot!

[@kentowens2179]

Fine job! Nice video.

[@tberkoff]

Love your videos.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks! Glad you like them!

[@joemiller9314]

Very impressive, always love your videos. Thank you for sharing your craft with us!!

[@johngallagher2313]

I did learn something and that is you are a skilled craftsman. I am most impressed. I am curious how long that process took start to finish?

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks, John! The whole process took about 5 hours of shop time.

[@danielalamo2075]

Beautiful job! I love watching your precision work.

[@richardboquist1531]

Great video!

[@johnnorman7708]

Don't know where else to ask this, so here goes. If you needed to convert a standard 94 or 92 SRC to a "trapper" or "special carbine" configuration due to severe muzzle and mag tube damage what are we up against? The front sight base? Milled out of the original barrel stock or dovetailed? I can't determine by looking at it.

[@jims9249]

Outstanding work! Thanks for the demo.

[@kevinforget549]

that's a really good method to welding thick pieces of metal together.

[@ronbianca1975]

Howdy Matt! Very good video. Tell me about that green vise and rubber material your using for padding. Take care my friend!

[@JeffandLeslie]

you are a craftsman. throughy enjoyed the video

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks, Jeff!

[@ranchodeluxe1]

Good stuff. One of my buddys bought a bunch on M1 receivers that had been welded shut for parade duty. He cut them loose and tig welded them up. When he got done, couldn't even tell. Gets $550 for one.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Tig welding is really tough, but a great skill to have if a person is going to work on guns.

[@justme5689]

Very nice work. I have a 1978 model Winchester 94 in .30-30 of my dads with a busted tang in the same spot. Definitely not a job for me. The only reason I'm going to get it repaired is for sentimental reasons. Thank you for the video.

[@Thekarlskorner]

Very informative Mark. I have an 1863 Sharps carbine that needs the same repair. I really like your spacer idea as well. I may further improve on it by drilling out a piece of square key stock of the correct width in a 5C square collect in my lathe.. This way, I can align my break better with a second parallel clamp. Thank you again for the inspiration. Where can one purchase the closer alloy rod?

[@michaelguerin56]

Mark said Brownells.

[@Gunner-73]

Nice work. Thank you for sharing. I tried some welding last year with a cheap Wire welder from Harbor Freight. I was either burning holes in it or mud dobbing.

[@jeffryrichardson9105]

Awesome!👍🏽😀❤️🇺🇸

[@jobygochoco2731]

outstanding!!!

[@antoninolatorre8355]

ciao, Cinnabar !!! you maked a very good work !!! 👍

[@thecinnabar8442]

Many thanks!

[@patrickcolahan7499]

Great work Mark. Impressive. Hard to weld without drawing the metal in some way. Love the fixture, simple and effective. One question, how do you address the blueing? Thanks very much for sharing.

[@gordonloessl2822]

Did you pre heat the area a bit? And what filler rod did you use?🇨🇦

[@michaelguerin56]

Nice work and story telling. Good to hear about your rainfall. Is it likely to top up any aquifers that you rely upon OR is that a slower process?

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks Michael!

[@paulvenn4447]

Phwoar 1895s are such a great rifle.

[@jeffcameron7853]

Wow, perfect video for me to find. I have a Steven's Favorite 1915 with a completely missing top tang and no stock. Mine shows no sign of crack or grinding marks so I'm puzzled as to why it's not there. I don't know exactly what steel to use for the weld but I'll figure something out. More for function than to restore to original.

[@chrislang5659]

What I learned is that I need to start welding, especially TIG!

[@thecinnabar8442]

It's a good skill to have for gunsmithing, but much more difficult to learn than some of the other types of welding.

[@chrislang5659]

@@thecinnabar8442 slow and tedious but wow the results!

[@jacklucking691]

GREAT Videos !!!!

[@darreldwalton8763]

When my Dad passed, I came into a barreled action, an early 1894 SRC chambered to 25-35. The bore looks like a sewer pipe, but it's original. The worst part of the rifle is that somewhere in it's past, the tangs, both upper and lower, were broken, most likely when my uncle rolled his horse on it. Someone had brazed the tangs back onto the receiver and lower receiver, but they're crooked, and the braze very poorly done. i hate to see this one go on the wall to hang my hats on, what would you suggest to put this thing back into a shooting piece? A new barrel is a given, and I'm on the lookout for the lower receiver with the right angle to replace what I've got. There's enough left of the tang up top that I don't think the lockup should be affected, but I've no idea how much heat was applied, nor the skill level of the hammer mechanic that brazed it up.... I hate to give up on 'family' guns. Uncle Bert went from the Pusan Perimeter north, washed his socks in the Yalu, and ended up on the 38th, all with the 1st Cav. Div., till my Dad's division, the 45th ID, relieved them Dec. 51. You likely didn't need to read a short story turned long, so I'll shut the hell up and wait for a response, but I've a good idea what you'll say. Take 'er easy, have fun, don't git caught!!!

[@thecinnabar8442]

I tried to repair one of my own that had been brazed and it didn't come out very well. All the brazing has to come off before it can be welded. By the time I ground all the brazing off, it was nearly impossible to get it lined up properly to weld on straight and there was a gap to fill between the pieces that is hard to fill with Tig welding.

[@darreldwalton8763]

About what I knew. Guess that I was hoping that You might have a magic wand to wave over the thing and make er all better! Mrs told me I was too old to believe in Santy Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny, but a guy's gotta hold out for a miracle or two, don't He? Thanks a ton, anyway! Love the shows! Have fun, don't git caught!

[@brianalbee4153]

I have an old uberti 1860 revolver that has a hairline surface crack in the frame from improper heat treating, I think the thinner part where it is milled out for the hand is really easy to over heat while case hardening. I was thinking of tig welding it but I'm not sure if firing a black powder revolver puts much strain on that part of the frame. It may be best just to leave it original but I don't feel I could ever sell it knowing there's a possible flaw in the frame

[@timtrax918artisan8]

This video has made me think about my 1873 with the missing uper tang stamping we recently had an email about. Have you seen many 1873 top tangs break ? maybe mine was at one point and was repaired and the markings was removed.

[@gilbertdelgado6703]

Really nice work, I’m sure there won’t be any sign that you repaired that break. I’m curious as to how that tang was broken.

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

Nice work.. 👍👍

[@norbertodisummo5022]

Can you make a straight grip mod.94 into a pistol grip ? I was thinking using a mod 71 tang or any other idea ? Would like a big bore .375 win pistol grip. Good repair 👍

[@thecinnabar8442]

The lower tang on an 1894 is removable, so it can be replaced with a lower tang from a pistol grip model. Unfortunately, it's not usually very easy to find a pistol grip lower tang for sale. The other option is to bend the lower tang on a straight grip 1894. It's not a simple task to get it right though.

[@DeathMond.]

Well i enjoyed your video, but KZbin wouldn't let me thumbs up or share. 👍

[@thecinnabar8442]

I'm starting to think they don't like guns.

[@diegoortgies7652]

That method can be used to repair pittings in a pistol frame ?

[@thecinnabar8442]

Yes it can. We do quite a bit of pit filling with tig welding. The latest and greatest device for pit filling is with laser welders. We've had a local jeweler with a laser welder do some pit filling on a receiver for us.

[@diegoortgies7652]

@@thecinnabar8442 Cool, good to know. I have a P04 and a Schnellfeuer, in excellent condition, but they have been stored for decades, and some pittings have formed in frames, I was thinking about repairing them.

[@Justin69ford]

Did you cold blue the repair? I have been researching Winchester and Colt's vintage fire, charcoal, or machine blue "Whichever term is correct" and would really appreciate a video on it if possible.

[@thecinnabar8442]

That repair was part of a complete restoration that was eventually blued using DuLite salts. Fire, charcoal and machine blue refer to three different bluing processes used by Colt. The fourth was carbonia blue. Fire (or nitre blue) and machine (or hot salt) blueing are still widely used, but the carbonia bluing process using sperm whale oil and large ovens of charcoal has been lost to time. There are only a couple of high-end restorers that I know of who are again using charcoal bluing. I've been experimenting with chacoal bluing but am not using it on firearms yet.

[@Justin69ford]

Thank you! Hopefully your charcoal blue process turns out well and you are able to share it in the future! Thank you for all that you do and share with us. @@thecinnabar8442

[@ahchu3256]

Wondering if silver brazing might be a better way to make this repair.

[@theol3199]

I’d say probably not. It wouldn’t take the bluing nor would it be as strong as a properly made weld joint.

[@thecinnabar8442]

You're exactly right! Silver solder is great stuff for many repairs but would be a poor choice for this application for those reasons.

[@robr6925]

I'm looking to buy a new tig welder. What are you working with?

[@thecinnabar8442]

I have a Thermadyne tig welder. It's a very nice welder. You can't go wrong with Millers either. Buy the best welder you can afford. There are cheap tig welders out there, but you get what you pay for. I really want one of the new laser welder, but they're out of my budget.

[@chipper0466]

Are you a licensed gunsmith? I got a Winchester 94 with a broken tang I need to get repaired

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks for asking. I'm sorry, but I'm swamped with work and have so many irons in the fire that I'm not able to take on any new projects.

[@cw2a]

♥️🤟🏽🙏

[@criscross6591]

👍👍

[@oscarperales8365]

I have a 94 receiver with the same problem. I can fix it myself, all I have to do is find a welder of Marks' capability. Any welders in El Paso??

[@pearlmax]

Broken tang.

[@barefoofDr]

Why did they break in the tang?