And now I'm flummoxed as to what to do.

Also a hearty f*ck me is in order.

I've been going through my collection of firearms and selling many. In every instance but two everything has been tip top and in great condition. My SIG 522 has a sticky and crumbling butt pad and my P230 in 9x18Police .

The P230 was in an original red cardboard box and the foam had turned to dusty manure . It looked like rust but cleaned off easily from the exterior . The take down lever wouldn't budge. I soaked it in CLP for a couple of days . Today when moving it to the down position it broke clean off at the frame.

It is about half way rotated and so the slide won't quite lift off.

I plan on calling SIG tomorrow but was wondering if anyone had a similar issue.

what is the next stage of disassembly? Any gunsmiths that come to mind? Robert Burke perhaps?

Thanks in advance for any ideas or leads.

Dennis

Cut a slot in it so you can turn it with a flat head screwdriver

Huh, Yet another error. I thought I was in the Gunsmithing section.

Cut a slot in it so you can turn it with a flat head screwdriver


Good idea but the thing is like 1/10 " wide.

Maybe get a wide rubber band, and using a dowel rod/ink pen or what what ever can get the rubber to bite on what is left of the broken metal in the gun and try twisting both the pen and the rubber band.

Will the lever bite again if pressed together?

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/1420087894

I suspectthe best option would be to find a welding shop that does Plasma Welding. BTW this process is similar to TIG but much more precise and intended for welding very small parts.

quote:

Will the lever bite again if pressed together?

No, it is a clean break and flush with the frame

If it was me then I would call Gray Guns and talk with them and maybe send it to them.

Gray Guns

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kg5388,

I wonder if a good machinist could drill the shaft enough to use an easy-out type tool to turn it. With it broken flush with the frame, cutting a slot in it without damaging the frame would be difficult.

The recommendation of calling Bruce Gray is solid advice.

The issue I see with doing all these things to get a grip on the remaining part to be able to turn it is the reason the part broke in the first place... and that is that it won't turn.....

I suspect you need to send it to someone who has dealt with this problem before.... damn shame...

Damn, now I got to go take my two P230's out and fondle them

IF you are the original owner it should be a warranty claim, the warranty for the lifetime of the original owner, if so, until you hear back from Sig I wouldn't do anything.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
IF you are the original owner it should be a warranty claim, the warranty for the lifetime of the original owner, if so, until you hear back from Sig I wouldn't do anything.

Don't believe SigSauer in the US imported any 9x18 examples. Those were either third party of early Interarms imports

I spoke with both SIG and Grayguns today. SIG offered no help as those are German made guns and parts are long since gone.

Grayguns wasn't hopeful but were going to discuss it and see if they thought it might could be fixed.

I've been soaking the front end in Breakfree and I'm researching the smallest screw extractors available. If I can get it to turn and disassembled I might can clean it up and fashion some kind of fix. That part isn't showing up but I've only done a limited search so far.

Thanks for the replies!

This has worked well for me on bolts broken off flush with (or slightly below) the surface.

Place a hex /square nut having an inside diameter smaller than the broken bolt (or round shaft diameter, in your case). Center the nut on your broken shaft.

Then heli-arc weld THRU the nut's INSIDE diameter to join the nut to the broken part.

Use the proper size wrench to rotate the nut and broken part.

The heat will loosen any corrosion keeping the shaft from rotating.

Be sure to get someone who knows how to TIG/Heli-arc weld!

Best of luck

You have my sympathies. I can relate to that deep sinking feeling in your stomach as it happened.

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I would talk with Grey Guns first, as a "just in case" fall-back, I wanted to share these places with you...

The first three places are part hoarders, they probably have a P230 Take Down Lever but they might not know they have it unless they go looking for it. You still need to get the part out of the Pistol, but once that's done you still need to find the part.

Jack First Gun Parts...Call (605-343-8481) and ask for an inventory check.

Bob's Gun Shop ( www.Gun-Parts.com/index.html/ ) Fax (501-767-2750) or email (gunparts@hsnp.com) them that you're in need of a P230 Take Down Lever along with your contact info...

Hoosier Gun Works (www.HoosierGunWorks.com/index.html
Call (270-749-2109) and say I have a dumb question. What are the chances the part I need is not shown in your online inventory? They usually will take the time to verify if they have the part if you ask nicely.

I checked Numrich (www.GunPartsCorp.com/) their online inventory doesn't show they have the part. Typically, their online inventory is correct but feel free to call and ask.

Places that have the skills to make a P230 Take Down Lever if you can't find a replacement. They will need the broken one you pulled out of your pistol, so save the broken Take Down Lever:

AB Prototype (www.ABprototype.com/) Talk to Alex

Matrix Precision Parts (www.MatrixPrecisionParts.com )

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I will have to add this comment... hopefully once you get the slide off by being able to get the internal rod to turn there is no conceivable reason that a new take down part could not be made. I read here and on other forums how a part is no longer available ... well hell somebody at some time in some factory with a lathe and other metal working equipment made the original part... a replacement part can be made.

Now I don't know if this will be helpful.. but I broke down the P230 I carried for years and took some pictures which are pasted below... and because I'm not too proud I did not clean the pistol before I took these... there is no rust... all that brown is just old oil and debris...

That is a helpful set of photographs Blume . I think I got the lever about as far down as that first photo, maybe even a tad more.

I can see the dimple shown in the third photo and tried to pry it down with a tool. No movement but there is very little room to maneuver.

My plan is to see if I can get a very small broken screw extractor to grab the end of the pin and turn it that way. I've ordered a set that should be here tomorrow. In the meantime it is soaking nose down in a cup of Breakfree.

I agree that the part could be fabricated once it is in hand. I might even could tap and screw it back together or have someone weld it as others have suggested.

Again, thanks all

Try to find a reverse twist drill to drill the hole. You may get lucky and have the broken take down lever turn while you drill the hole.

My experience with small screw extractors has not been great. They’re hard steel and can be brittle and if you break one off in use it’s a drag.

I think I’d send it to Bruce Gray, if it was mine.

You might try some Kroil as a penetrating oil, too. That stuff will get into anything.

Someone has to have a P230 takedown lever. Maybe SIG in Europe or some European parts house?