1900 american eagle resto

command450 · 07-12-2011, 06:03 PM

My pops had This box of parts in his safe(ironically in an old cigar box,ha,ha!) and low and behold it was an all matching 1900 eagle! The good news was most of it was in decent shape,grips even matched.The frame had some serious issues. It must have been damaged or rusted bad,on the frame underneath the side plate. He said someone filled it in with a bead of steel weld. At one time,some idiot must have used the front grip strap for a hammer

. there were big dings and it effected the mag insertion, so that had to be dealt with. there were some parts of the frame that need to be reblued also. grips were still nice and the rest of the gun was still pretty nice and original.

Having some gunsmithing skills myself,I decided last weekend to restore it. luckily pops has a mint 1900 that I could use as a guide for specs. the welded section needed to be cut back to spec and ofcourse refininshed, and I had to get the mag well back to spec and do my best to get the heavy dings out. some of the before and after pics did not turn out well, but I got a few that did.

Click image for larger version

Name: 1st eagle.jpg
Views: 525
Size: 57.7 KB
ID: 19999

Heres the best before pic, there was a much larger weld but you can see the first step of being milled down

Click image for larger version

Name: 2nd eagle.jpg
Views: 493
Size: 83.3 KB
ID: 20000

After final depth cut and width cut,mic'd out....side plate is GTG.

Click image for larger version

Name: 3rd eagle.jpg
Views: 525
Size: 43.9 KB
ID: 20001

View of upper parts,which need very little touching up.

Click image for larger version

Name: eagle 10.jpg
Views: 569
Size: 60.7 KB
ID: 20009

side view after frame was touched up, and dents hammered out of grip strap. mag well is now opperational.

Click image for larger version

Name: 6th eagle.jpg
Views: 524
Size: 53.6 KB
ID: 20003

Other side.

Click image for larger version

Name: 4th eagle.jpg
Views: 543
Size: 48.4 KB
ID: 20004

Grip strap, about as good as I could get it,without removing too much metal,for my taste. but I wanted it to match wear wise to the rear.

Click image for larger version

Name: 9th eagle.jpg
Views: 530
Size: 77.8 KB
ID: 20005

A gathering of eagles!!

Click image for larger version

Name: 7th eagle.jpg
Views: 535
Size: 67.3 KB
ID: 20006

Click image for larger version

Name: 8th eagle.jpg
Views: 511
Size: 60.5 KB
ID: 20007

Well I was very happy to save the gal, and I wanted her to have some original wear and that certain "original" look or atleast close to it, I did not want to try and refinish everything and make it brand new.

Cheers,

Mike

lugerholsterrepair · 07-12-2011, 06:23 PM

Mike, Excellent job! Nicely accomplished..Thanks for showing what can be done!

command450 · 07-12-2011, 06:32 PM

Thanks Jerry. I am upset that my before pics did not turn out good,there was one of the beat up grip strap that I wanted to show.......My pops and I are still trying to figure out why on earth they beat it like that???

alanint · 07-12-2011, 06:51 PM

Anybody who would turn a welding torch onto a gun like this is capable of just about anything!!!

Edward Tinker · 07-12-2011, 07:46 PM

Great job.

I can't see the serial numbers or at least their ranges so I can feel envy

Ice · 07-13-2011, 04:52 AM

Excellent job!

Charlie

07-12-2011, 06:03 PM	#1
command450 User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: West Michigan Posts: 38 Thanks: 16 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	1900 american eagle resto My pops had This box of parts in his safe(ironically in an old cigar box,ha,ha!) and low and behold it was an all matching 1900 eagle! The good news was most of it was in decent shape,grips even matched.The frame had some serious issues. It must have been damaged or rusted bad,on the frame underneath the side plate. He said someone filled it in with a bead of steel weld. At one time,some idiot must have used the front grip strap for a hammer. there were big dings and it effected the mag insertion, so that had to be dealt with. there were some parts of the frame that need to be reblued also. grips were still nice and the rest of the gun was still pretty nice and original. Having some gunsmithing skills myself,I decided last weekend to restore it. luckily pops has a mint 1900 that I could use as a guide for specs. the welded section needed to be cut back to spec and ofcourse refininshed, and I had to get the mag well back to spec and do my best to get the heavy dings out. some of the before and after pics did not turn out well, but I got a few that did. Heres the best before pic, there was a much larger weld but you can see the first step of being milled down After final depth cut and width cut,mic'd out....side plate is GTG. View of upper parts,which need very little touching up. side view after frame was touched up, and dents hammered out of grip strap. mag well is now opperational. Other side. Grip strap, about as good as I could get it,without removing too much metal,for my taste. but I wanted it to match wear wise to the rear. A gathering of eagles!! Well I was very happy to save the gal, and I wanted her to have some original wear and that certain "original" look or atleast close to it, I did not want to try and refinish everything and make it brand new. Cheers, Mike

07-12-2011, 06:23 PM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,933 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	Mike, Excellent job! Nicely accomplished..Thanks for showing what can be done! __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

07-12-2011, 07:46 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	Great job. I can't see the serial numbers or at least their ranges so I can feel envy __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

07-12-2011, 06:32 PM	#3
command450 User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: West Michigan Posts: 38 Thanks: 16 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Thanks Jerry. I am upset that my before pics did not turn out good,there was one of the beat up grip strap that I wanted to show.......My pops and I are still trying to figure out why on earth they beat it like that???

07-12-2011, 06:51 PM	#4
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Anybody who would turn a welding torch onto a gun like this is capable of just about anything!!!

07-13-2011, 04:52 AM	#6
Ice User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 552 Thanks: 13 Thanked 69 Times in 57 Posts	Excellent job! Charlie