Welding Up Dovetail and Front Cocking Serrations

[DuckRyder]

Assuming I was willing to pay what I imagine would be considerable cost to do so,

On a Stainless Steel Colt Slide...

Would it be possible to weld up the front cocking serrations and non standard sight front sight dove tail?

Could the slide then be flat topped, serrated, and have a standard dovetail sight installed?

Once this work was done would it be possible to have it Ion Bonded or would it need to be coated with Black T instead?

(I know the thing to do would be to call a smith, but it is more than a little while before I would be ready to do it and I am really just wondering if it is even possible.)

[sevenL4]

Depending on where the cocking serrations are, a Highpower cut on the slide might solve the problem and give your pistol a custom look. If you intend to have it coated, get a new steel slide and sell your stainless one. Pictures would help.

[4sfed]

Assuming I was willing to pay what I imagine would be considerable cost to do so,

On a Stainless Steel Colt Slide...

Would it be possible to weld up the front cocking serrations and non standard sight front sight dove tail?

Could the slide then be flat topped, serrated, and have a standard dovetail sight installed?

Once this work was done would it be possible to have it Ion Bonded or would it need to be coated with Black T instead?

(I know the thing to do would be to call a smith, but it is more than a little while before I would be ready to do it and I am really just wondering if it is even possible.)It would be feasable to weld the front sight dovetail, but not the cocking serrations. That's too much welding on a light part and the shrinkage would change the dimensions enough it would probably be unusable.

[ranburr]

It would be easier and probably cheaper to just buy a new slide.

ranburr

[edmorales]

It would be easier and probably cheaper to just buy a new slide.

ranburr

+1 on that
ed

[John]

Welding the dovetail cut is doable, but welding the cocking serrations....

Too much heat and no one guarantees that the slide will polish flat again.

Get a new slide, the way you want it.

[Rich-D]

I agree with the new slide recommendations. It will be less expensive, less risky and you'll have a extra slide to sell or save.


Rich

[DuckRyder]

Thank you gentlemen...

It is a Colt XSE LTW Commander in Super 38. (the one in my pistol pictures)

The FCS go back past the front of the dustcover, I don't think a Hi-Power cut would look right.

Colt Super .38 Commander slides without FCS are not readily available...unfortunately...

[auto45]

I think Caspian is your "friend" on this one.

You can get them flat-topped, no FS, series 80 with whatever sight cut.
And, I don't think you would have much trouble selling the Colt slide to offset some of the cost.

I also "think" you'd have a hard time finding someone willing to do that kind of work...but could be wrong.

[pa_guns]

Hi

Even if the weld on the serrations worked, it's going to be pretty expensive. By the time you get it all flat again it will be more money than a new slide.

Bob

[Klug]

Guys I have been in the tool trade for over 30 years. I also have 30 years of TIG welding experience. Although I think the welding is possible, it is not practical. If done in stages the heat might not be a big problem as far as shrinkage is concerned. My biggest worry would be the "knit" line between the virgin steel and the weld itself. You are welding 400 series stainless using stainless rod and the "knit" line will be harder than the rest of the slide. I wouldn't risk doing this to my own slide, I sure wouldn't try it on anyone else's. For what my opinion is worth, it is time for a new slide.

[Frank]

I think Caspian is your "friend" on this one.

You can get them flat-topped, no FS, series 80 with whatever sight cut.
And, I don't think you would have much trouble selling the Colt slide to offset some of the cost.

I also "think" you'd have a hard time finding someone willing to do that kind of work...but could be wrong.
Or you may want to hold on to the Colt slide so that you can return the gun to its original configuration if you want.

DVC

[DuckRyder]

Unless I happen to find a Colt slide I won't be replacing the slide, I'd rather just live with the FCS.

I am planning to have some work done to it when I get the money, I would have preferred it black (in fact I'd prefer it have been a Blued 1991 Combat Commander in Super .38... :D ) and will be having it made so, along with some other work (serrating the front strap and slide, S&A beavertail) If it were possible to remove the serrations I would, but if it is not that is O.K too.

We still got the ear of anyone at Colt we could get to make the Combat Commander in Super? :D

Thanks for the input... I'll put this one in the "probably not" category...

[pa_guns]

Hi

One "intermediate" solution would be to grind down the high parts of the serrations. Done carefully it might do most of what you want to do without even the issue of re-finishing.

Bob

[bophi]

as a tig welder, i would not weld on the slide in this area, too much heat input
buy another slide or trade it for what you want,

[EchoBravoKilo]

We still got the ear of anyone at Colt we could get to make the Combat Commander in Super? :D
...and 9mm?

[pa_guns]

...and 9mm?

Hi

I don't think that Colt had all that good a run last time they did 9mm's. I don't know that for sure though.

Bob