The dreaded, copy and paste:
This is probably the worst condition/ most difficult Italian I've ever worked on. It looked like it had been run over by a truck. Front bolsters were smashed almost flat, big hammer marks and gouges in them, pivot pin poorly replaced, tons of slop in the blade, handles dried out, cracked and busted with pieces missing, button missing, kickspring broken, blade bent, filed, and ground among other things. Was unsure how well it was going to turn out after I seen it in person. After I got it just about done the blade stopped locking closed, re-disassembled and found out there was debris under the sear that I missed so it wasn't properly engaging the blade. Reassemble and finish, test fire a couple times and hear the dreaded "snap". Button stops working. Arrrgh. re-re-disassemble button return spring broke, so I make a new one and re-re-assemble. Now it works like a new one, locks tight and fires hard. Was able to get all the dents out of the bolsters, reshape and resolder them, straightened the liners, added new scales, made a new button, new kickspring, and cleaned up all the metal. I'm really pleased with the way this one turned out. Hope it's owner likes it.
Before pics are modest about showing the extent of the damage:
Here's some after pics:
P.S all those pins were hand peened, with enough practice you can peen pins so round they almost look spun.
