Need help with a Russ Hamm lock

[Lakeman]

A few years ago I bought a .45 cal left handed rifle. The lock was made by Russ Hamm, the barrel by G.R. Douglas, and it was built by someone named J.M. Chandler. It quickly became my favorite rifle until I discovered a problem. The hole for the rear screw that secures the lock into the stock was drilled too close to the edge of the plate and the plate itself is not hardened correctly. It wasn't long before the shoulder on the hammer or cock began to peen the edge of the lock plate and it became obvious the screw hole and edge of the plate were going to meet leaving a "U" instead of a "O". So I'm looking for someone who can fix this problem either by adding metal to the edge next to the hole and tempering the plate or, if necessary, making a new plate. Or let me know if you have a better idea. The rifle is a beauty and a tack driver. I want to get it back to shooting.
John

 

[Lakeman]

 

[64Springer]

If you provide clearance for all moving and stationary parts, there will be no peening or wearing away of material.

If something is rubbing on something else file or stone those areas/parts.

To my eye there's plenty of material there.

That lock bolster is only so big. It was either get close to one edge or the other edge.

 

[Lakeman]

Let me try this again. The inside surface of the hammer has a shoulder that comes to rest on the edge of the lockplate at the end of its travel. This arrests the hammer and prevents strain on the mechanism. In this case the plate is too soft and the screw hole too near the edge.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

The gunsmith at The Log Cabin in Lodi OH can repair your lock at reasonable cost.

 

[Robby]

The mechanics being what they are, I don't see a problem. Maybe if I had it in hand I'd see it different, but either way I would shoot it till it actually became a problem, if indeed that does occur.
Robby

 

[flconch53]

If the screw is in the lock plate it shouldn't deform the hole. From the picture I can't tell if there is a hole behind the hole in the plate

 

[Joe B.]

Old thread, I know. Did you ever resolve the problem? If the screw is loose when threaded into the bolster, there are several ways to fix it, ranging from shade tree to professional.

 

[Lakeman]

I removed metal from the shoulder on the hammer (cock) so it contacts the plate aft of the hole instead over it. Problem solved.
John