A simple boxlock mainspring.
Here we have a spring from a simple boxlock shotgun. Rust and metal fatigue have finally taken their toll and the spring has broken.
At this stage the gun has stopped working, and the customer is faced with finding someone to repair it.
Most people will want an indication of how much this will cost. But, the question really is, how much will what cost? The cost just to make the gun work again can be quite different to the cost of making a quality part with an anticipated service life at least as long as the manufacturer's original part.
At this stage the gun has stopped working, and the customer is faced with finding someone to repair it.
Most people will want an indication of how much this will cost. But, the question really is, how much will what cost? The cost just to make the gun work again can be quite different to the cost of making a quality part with an anticipated service life at least as long as the manufacturer's original part.
A rough forged spring is readily available for this gun. This spring will go in and work with very little time being spent on finishing the spring properly, but early breakage is more likely.
Below we see a rough forged spring as some workshops will fit with very little further work. I know this because I see a lot of them (usually broken).
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See how rough that is. Each surface mark is a potential stress point which can cause the spring to fail prematurely.
I wouldn't want to fit that, it may be quick and cheap, but I don't want to have to worry about poor workmanship causing a client to miss a days shooting when it breaks.
Below is the same spring blank after it has been correctly filed, polished, heat treated and regulated in our workshop. Now, that I am happy to give a guarantee.
I wouldn't want to fit that, it may be quick and cheap, but I don't want to have to worry about poor workmanship causing a client to miss a days shooting when it breaks.
Below is the same spring blank after it has been correctly filed, polished, heat treated and regulated in our workshop. Now, that I am happy to give a guarantee.
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So, which spring would you prefer in your gun? Both will work, but one should last a lot longer than the other, and that could mean the difference between being able to shoot or not.
To see how a hand forged spring is make, click Making a mainspring for a classic shotgun.
Below we see the main stages of this repair. Three boxlock main springs, one broken, one rough forged, and one ready to go.
