Cracked Cylinder - Kirst 1851 Pietta Conversion 38 LC

[Flinch Morningwood]

Just de-blued my Pietta 1851 along with it's conversion (that I bought several years ago) pieces in preparation for Electroless nickel coating and found  hairline crack on the side of the cylinder.  It doesn't look like it goes to the ends.

I only put about 100 rounds thru this before switching to 38-40.  I shot a 38 LC cartridge with a hollow base bullet and 15 grains of 3F.  I have a hard time believing I over stressed the cylinder.

Questions:

    (1)  Anyone else ever have this happen?

    (2)  What are the chances Kirst will swap this out for a new one?

    (3)  Could a gunsmith weld this up?

I see I can buy just the cylinder for $117 from the Kirst site but would rather not if I could avoid it...especially since I haven't used it that much.

Thanks!

[Coffinmaker]

First, No, don't repair the cylinder by welding.  You'll wind up with both the cylinder and the chamber out of round.

Second, Give Walt a call.  He'll probably wany to look at it.  Then he may replace it, split the cost with you, or tell you "tough cookies" if he thinks it's your fault.  I don't have a crystal ball but Walt has always been fair.

Coffinmaker

[Raven]

First off why not go staight to the source??

1. There have been TWO Kirst cylinders that have cracked both as a result of improper reloading.

2. If it is cracked because of some defect.....YES WE WILL REPLACE IT!!!!
   If you shoot reloads.....We will probably still replace it. Possibly splitting costs.

3. No gunsmith in their right mind would do it.

YOU NEED TO SEND IT IN!!!

Kirst Konverter
407 S.6th St.
Gatesvile, TX 76528

Just for those of you who don't know, our garauntee on our product is 100% NO BULLSHIT!

Jay Strite AKA Raven
Kirst Konverter LLC

[Trailrider]

Just as a matter of interest (opinion):

1. ABSOLUTELY DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE CYLINDER!

2. Definitely send it back to Kirst, IN ITS AS-IS CONDITION!

3. Doubtful that 15gr of BP would cause the cylinder to crack.

4. Possible cause could be either improper heat treatment, or undetected flaw in the the blank. (I don't know if Kirst has the blanks NDT'd before machining or not.  I have NO knowledge of the actual situation or Mr. Kirst's manufacturing procedures, just expressing the usual cause of such things.

[Flinch Morningwood]

I seriously appreciate all the responses...

After I had a chance to look at under magnifiation, it looked like it might possibly be a strategically placed scratch masquerading as a crack...especially with some of the blueing remaining in the crack.

So I started the polishing process with 400 grit paper - and it started to disappear at both ends.  This leads me to the conclusion that it is a scratch...

I was an EOD officer in the navy and have seen a wide variety of metals in various degrees of "cracking"...and this looked a lot like a crack - but I was wrong (not the first or last time most likely ).

Again, I appreciate all the responses, especially from Jay (Raven) and the offer to stand behind their products. 

Thanks again!

[swampman]

I seriously appreciate all the responses...

After I had a chance to look at under magnifiation, it looked like it might possibly be a strategically placed scratch masquerading as a crack...especially with some of the blueing remaining in the crack.

So I started the polishing process with 400 grit paper - and it started to disappear at both ends.  This leads me to the conclusion that it is a scratch...

I was an EOD officer in the navy and have seen a wide variety of metals in various degrees of "cracking"...and this looked a lot like a crack - but I was wrong (not the first or last time most likely ).

Again, I appreciate all the responses, especially from Jay (Raven) and the offer to stand behind their products. 

Thanks again!

Well that's good to hear.      Still looking forward to see how the plating turns out.