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Saving Rock Ola 1711015 |
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jangle
On Point Joined: Jan 13 2016 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 146 |
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Posted: Jun 23 2020 at 10:50pm |
I'd like to share with the membership a fairly early Rock Ola that I recently obtained. I saw this rifle in a pawn shop and I envisioned the former owner as the next door neighbor kid in the animated movie “Toy Story” named Sid. You know the one, the kid who is always mistreating his toys. I knew within two minutes of looking at this Carbine that it was an original war horse, that had that “been there and done that” look all over it. It had obviously been neglected in the past as the original front band had been broken at the 2nd spot weld on the right side with the remainder of the band missing along with the swivel. The hand guard was also missing. I paid $900 for it, talking the owner down from $1000 as he could obviously see it had some condition issues. The few photos below are the way I received it. I spent the next couple of days thinking how I was going to repair the band…as taking the original staked front sight off was completely out of the question. Luckily, within two days, the seller Mortardoctor on eBay listed a torch cut original band with the complete lower band and the swivel being undamaged, which I was able to purchase. A couple of photos are included of this band. I thought about how to proceed with the repair for at least a week. After determining that there was enough of the torched band to use the upper left side with the screw hole to make the small 90 degree bend over the stock and attach to the existing original band, I started the process. After using a small grinder to remove the inner part of the band, I cut the pieces longer than needed to allow for adjustment. The band measured .054 thick so I filed the two mating pieces down to .027 each and spliced the two together using JB weld. The visible splice was right at the 90 degree bend which helps to keep the splice to be not as noticeable. To assemble the final piece to my existing band, the biggest problem I had to overcome was joining two pieces of flat sheet metal together, that was strong enough to support the band spring pressure that it would encounter. For me, I knew welding of any kind was out of the question, so I used a tempered punch to indent a half dozen pricks on the underside of the upper part of the band and since the band that goes around the barrel is tempered I could only scratch the surface with a sharp awl. This was enough to allow the JB weld to have something to “stick to” as it turned out great! The next problem was my original band had a nice parkerized patina to it and the replacement band was more rusted so it was a stark contrast in the two bands. I remedied this with Naval Jelly on the replacement band which gave it a phosphate finish look. I couldn’t be more happy how this turned out. It was a very tedious repair that took me several weeks of thinking about it and making the final decisions on how to proceed. Hopefully you can see a few photos of this band replacement below. I added a hand guard that matched the condition of the rifle along with an unmarked old used khaki sling. My intension in this repair is not to try and fool anyone now or in the future, as the repair is obvious to anyone looking at the rifle. I wouldn’t want to carry the rifle over my shoulder with this repaired front band, but it sure looks nice hanging on my wall! Below are a few photos of the completed rifle. Thank you for reading my long winded write up and viewing the photos. I hope they come out in the right order. Well, I tried to add the photos in the middle of text but I'm not tech savvy enough to do it. Photos are in order of receiving the Carbine, working on the band and the finished project. |
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03manV
On Point Joined: Mar 01 2020 Location: near Charlotte Status: Offline Points: 262 |
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Nice, "tedious", work Jim; a good save.
I do believe you could soft solder The joints while on the barrel without damage; if the JB pops loose- maybe you will want to try.
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Don
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welbytwo
Hard Corps Advanced Collector Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 802 |
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well you certainly saved the best of two doomed bands
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GotSnlB28
Hard Corps Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 892 |
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Impressive work on recovering the band, very creative. Glad you could save that Rock, no question original parts.
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Durango56
Recruit Joined: Dec 27 2016 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 67 |
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Looks good, nice carbine rescue.
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tenOCEE
Hard Corps Knows rear sights! Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: East Tenn Status: Offline Points: 1330 |
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It looks great.
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My sig: Seen an IP or S'G'? Add it to my registry. We'll check consecutives.
https://grandrapids.wufoo.com/forms/zzlnt0519k86xs/ |
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David Milisock
On Point Joined: Aug 03 2019 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 334 |
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You have provide a much needed service to the carbine universe.
I'm working on my son and grandson so they can develop a feel for the 30 carbine, hoping to keep it active well into the future.
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David Milisock
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1st M1 88
On Point Joined: Aug 26 2016 Location: illinois Status: Offline Points: 278 |
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Nice find. That is an awesome repair.
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W5USMC
Moderator Group Joined: Apr 29 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 2949 |
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I also think it looks great, I am curious to know if the JB weld will hold up if you shoot it.
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Wayne
USMC Retired NRA Life Member |
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jangle
On Point Joined: Jan 13 2016 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 146 |
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Thank you for the positive comments on this Carbine.
Don, I first thought about trying to solder but the thought of trying to hold these tiny pieces together when soldering made me blink on that idea. Wayne, I'm going to let someone else be the first to test the band by firing. My intention in this fix was only as a wall hanger. I forgot to add the data sheet the other evening, so here it is. If anyone should want to see a photo of a particular part just ask as I took photos of most everything after cleaning it up. Thanks again! |
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GotSnlB28
Hard Corps Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 892 |
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Jangle, on the datasheet I see your front sight has a single R in the front. I'd be interested in a picture of it, and also the barrel proof P. Thanks for sharing!
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Crusader_6
Recruit Joined: May 04 2020 Location: Puerto Rico Status: Offline Points: 19 |
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I really liked what you did with that carbine. I would’ve done the same. I’m currently doing the same for an Universal I have. I enjoyed your post and pictures.
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carbinecanuck
On Point Joined: Feb 04 2017 Location: Western Canada Status: Offline Points: 94 |
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The patina of the metal is very appealing to me.
There is just something about that look of age, that will always grab my attention over something shiny and spotless. Congratulations on the find and well done on the restoration work!
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Courage is fear holding on a minute longer. - GEORGE S. PATTON
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tenOCEE
Hard Corps Knows rear sights! Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: East Tenn Status: Offline Points: 1330 |
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Yeah, I'd like to see the marking too.
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My sig: Seen an IP or S'G'? Add it to my registry. We'll check consecutives.
https://grandrapids.wufoo.com/forms/zzlnt0519k86xs/ |
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jangle
On Point Joined: Jan 13 2016 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 146 |
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I had a few other request for photos, so I am posting pics of Rock Ola marking in bottom of slide, KR hammer in a diamond?, straight hammer marks only on trigger housing, rear sight punch stake marks on left side and chisel staking on right side and R on front sight along with P barrel proof which is 5 3/4" behind front sight and is 3/32" high. |
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tenOCEE
Hard Corps Knows rear sights! Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: East Tenn Status: Offline Points: 1330 |
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Pretty uncommon markings to note are the R on the front of the sight and the ROCK-OLA stamped inside the slide bucket. The font is different on the front sight than another image I saved. Good call on the photo request, GotSnlB28. How many flaming bombs on the left side of the barrel where the slide track is located?
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My sig: Seen an IP or S'G'? Add it to my registry. We'll check consecutives.
https://grandrapids.wufoo.com/forms/zzlnt0519k86xs/ |
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jangle
On Point Joined: Jan 13 2016 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 146 |
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There was only one flaming bomb on barrel flat, just in front of piston. Gas cylinder was Rock Ola only.
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tenOCEE
Hard Corps Knows rear sights! Joined: Jan 01 2016 Location: East Tenn Status: Offline Points: 1330 |
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The barrel flat being on the bottom? It's the left side of the barrel on the slide rail area I was wondering about. Nothing there? Usually there's at least one small flaming bomb.
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My sig: Seen an IP or S'G'? Add it to my registry. We'll check consecutives.
https://grandrapids.wufoo.com/forms/zzlnt0519k86xs/ |
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jangle
On Point Joined: Jan 13 2016 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 146 |
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Yes, the barrel flat being on the bottom. I have no other flaming bombs listed on my notes.
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Why Carbines?
Hard Corps Joined: Dec 27 2015 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 883 |
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I'd keep it as a neat wall hanger and not test that barrel band, of course it might hold up fine, but better safe than sorry.
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