Barrel extension/fork slightly bent

[ithacaartist]

I agree that G.T. would do a bang-up job with the least risk.

In case you want to take the plunge yourself, I'll relate how I've straightened the barrel extensions of several early Erma toggle pistols without breaking them. They're made of cast ZAMAK, which is much more brittle than steel.

The idea is to reconcile the sides of the extension to be parallel with the part of it that's the chamber while making certain each one is straight unto itself. I have a 1/2" steel bench, which provides a sturdy, flat surface, so start with a similar surface.

Check with a straightedge to see which, and how far the "legs" are out of true, or if the problem is a bow along either leg's length.

If a leg is straight overall, but bent at its root, where it merges with the body of the chamber area, you'll need a shim, between the latter and the bench, that's slightly more than the offset needed. This allows for spring-back of the material when it's released. I use a C clamp placed perhaps a third of the leg's length away from the chamber area to draw it down towards the bench, tightening in increments and checking after each squeeze. You'll notice that bending it just a hair more than straight actually results in a straight piece once the clamp is let off, that's the material's spring-back.

If one or both legs are bowed, straighten it/them by shimming and squeezing with the clamp. When a leg conforms to the straightedge, *then* you can go ahead and reconcile them to the chamber area.

Go slowly, checking after each increment, and you'll soon enough have straightened your barreled upper! Unless the steel is damaged to begin with, you will succeed just fine. If it can be done with Zamak, it can be done with steel!