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Smith-Corona Question

Why would you waste time trying that? Even if you could get the best of the best work done on it, what you are left with will always and forever be a repaired butchered rifle, especially if you are trying to go back to original military configuration.

Danny
Good question. Short answer: I’m a sucker for basket cases. I served for 25 years. The entire time, I flew in and fixed various models of helicopters. That right there tells you I’m a glutton for punishment. I just can’t let a piece of military gear end up in the scrap bin.
 
The receiver bridge has not nothing to do with the strength of the action. Every now and then you see a partial action where the front portion has been cut off (usually from one of these localities who think they are saving the world by destroying a firearm). Cut off the rear portion of your action somewhere forward of the cutoff spindle where the receiver is straight and utilize the matching part of the demilled action to replace it. A good TIG welder can make a nice job of it. I've seen Mausers and 1917 Enfields that were shortened in this fashion and it was very hard to discern it. Just make sure the finished length is correct, so that the bolt works properly. You could also just slice off the top of the bridge and TIG the replacement part from a demilled receiver onto it - would be a lot simpler.
 
Short answer: I’m a sucker for basket cases.
This is something I brought up in one of the postings, that I've noticed that some guys have this affinity for buying/acquiring basket cases, "fixer uppers". I don't see where it makes sense, nor do I get it, but..."ok".

Danny
 
The receiver bridge has not nothing to do with the strength of the action. Every now and then you see a partial action where the front portion has been cut off (usually from one of these localities who think they are saving the world by destroying a firearm). Cut off the rear portion of your action somewhere forward of the cutoff spindle where the receiver is straight and utilize the matching part of the demilled action to replace it. A good TIG welder can make a nice job of it. I've seen Mausers and 1917 Enfields that were shortened in this fashion and it was very hard to discern it. Just make sure the finished length is correct, so that the bolt works properly. You could also just slice off the top of the bridge and TIG the replacement part from a demilled receiver onto it - would be a lot simpler.
Thank you!
 
If you really want to throw good money after bad, find yourself a really GOOD gunsmith/machinist who has a mill and knows how to use it. Take measurements of the rear sight mount from an unaltered receiver. Mill a flat spot where your rear sight mount used to be. Cut a steel block to the proper dimensions in the mill, and then permanently attach it to your receiver. It probably wouldn't run you more than $2.5-3K. Better yet, while you have another reciever there, move your barrel (assuming that it wasn't bubba-smiffed too) over to it, along with the rest of your parts. Take your current receiver and cut it into pieces with a bandsaw or acetylene torch, and call it good.

I'm sorry, but a man has got to know his limitations. My dad bought basket case cars, trucks, scooters and dirt bikes intending to fix them up his whole life, and most of them ended up in pieces in the garage and driveway until the scrap man came to get them, many years later. I am afflicted with the same habit, although mine are guns. You have to know when you've adopted an unfixable problem, and IMHO that's where you are with this rifle.
 
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If you really want to throw good money after bad, find yourself a really GOOD gunsmith/machinist who has a mill and knows how to use it. Take measurements of the rear sight mount from an unaltered receiver. Mill a flat spot where your rear sight mount used to be. Cut a steel block to the proper dimensions in the mill, and then permanently attach it to your receiver. It probably wouldn't run you more than $2.5-3K. Better yet, while you have another reciever there, move your barrel (assuming that it wasn't bibba-smiffed too) over to it, along with the rest of your parts. Take your current receiver and cut it into pieces with a bandsaw or acetylene torch, and call it good.

I'm sorry, but a man has got to know his limitations. My dad bought basket case cars, trucks, scooters and dirt bikes intending to fix them up his whole life, and most of them ended up in pieces in the garage and driveway until the scrap man came to get them, many years later. I am afflicted with the same habit, although mine are guns. You have to know when you've adopted an unfixable problem, and IMHO that's where you are with this rifle.
Progressive cant keep you from becoming your parents!! Hahaha I know, I have the same problem.
 
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Many years ago (at least 25yrs) I had 2 Savage 99s brought to me for repair. The kind of 99s that take detachable magazines. Both chambered for .22-250 Rem with factory barrels. Upon close examination, both had bolt lock abutment set back, and both cracked from there back to that closest scope mount screw hole. I ended up taking a Win 70 (that had a very rough life) chambered in .222Rem Mag as payment for my labor. The Model 70 bolt, action and magazine components were very usable, good enough payment for my labor. I got to keep the 99s for parts, too! Later, I listed 1 of those Model 99s, just the action with no parts, on GunBroker. I clearly described the problem several times in my listing, along with a couple of close-up pics of the set back and crack. I don't remember exactly the amount I listed it for, seems maybe $50 or so as a "Paper Weight"/Novelty. I DO remember the final selling price at the end of the auction,,,,,, $285 plus shipping to the buyers FFL. I did contact the auction winner and again made sure he understood what he was getting. He was fine with it, and happy to get it for that price!!! Go figure,,,, a true "Paper Weight" beyond repair or fixing! He bought one of the barrels , too,,,, the one that had the head ripped off of the case that was still stuck in the chamber!
 
Many years ago (at least 25yrs) I had 2 Savage 99s brought to me for repair. The kind of 99s that take detachable magazines. Both chambered for .22-250 Rem with factory barrels. Upon close examination, both had bolt lock abutment set back, and both cracked from there back to that closest scope mount screw hole. I ended up taking a Win 70 (that had a very rough life) chambered in .222Rem Mag as payment for my labor. The Model 70 bolt, action and magazine components were very usable, good enough payment for my labor. I got to keep the 99s for parts, too! Later, I listed 1 of those Model 99s, just the action with no parts, on GunBroker. I clearly described the problem several times in my listing, along with a couple of close-up pics of the set back and crack. I don't remember exactly the amount I listed it for, seems maybe $50 or so as a "Paper Weight"/Novelty. I DO remember the final selling price at the end of the auction,,,,,, $285 plus shipping to the buyers FFL. I did contact the auction winner and again made sure he understood what he was getting. He was fine with it, and happy to get it for that price!!! Go figure,,,, a true "Paper Weight" beyond repair or fixing! He bought one of the barrels , too,,,, the one that had the head ripped off of the case that was still stuck in the chamber!
He is probably shooting it.

Danny
 
I am a sucker for basket cases, but occasionally have realized that a few were beyond any reasonable effort.
It always warms my heart when I go to sell one, and find out how many other people have the same affliction. One reciever went for about 5 times what I felt it should.

As far as "WHY?", if you are asking a stupid question like that, you wouldn't understand any explanation we could give you. If people can climb a mountain "because it was there", I reserve the right to fix up basket case firearms, just because I want to.
 
Looks like this might be a good resource for some of your projects. He does excellent work

 

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