Phil, actually I have read your posts and you are also incorrect in assuming that I've no experience with putting guns back on face. I'm a machinist and did lots of precision work over many years. The last gun I put back on face was a best British boxlock built on the Smith assisted opening action. It was off face a few thousands so I fitted a new crosspin. I wouldn't dream of cutting into the hook on such a nice gun. Moreover, when I removed the old pin it was apparent that most or all of the wear was on the pin and the new one only needed to be made to the original size or a tiny bit bigger. The most difficult part was making sure that the shoulders and thread of the new one were as tight as possible. Nor would I harden such a pin, I used O1 steel which in it's anealed state is plenty hard and tough enough. Obviously you need a thread cutting lathe and experience cutting threads right up to shoulders, etc. so perhaps not every gunsmith wants to get into doing this. BTW. you got your facts a little backward, pressed in pins rarely go all the way thru the frame and consequently don't have engraved ends. It's the caps in the outside wall of the frame that get the engraving. You couldn't harden a pin, press it into the frame and then engrave it. Pressed pins mostly got hardened when the frame was case hardened. Hope this post doesn't get you upset.
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