Hanael 26

[nattyjack]

I am restoring a hanael 26, but the casting has cracked around the trigger housing , does anyone know what material this is (its not steel!) and the best way to repair it.?
Also does anyone have any photos / dimensions or even an old spare pair of grip as I need to make these too.
thanks
Natty

[Garvin]

I am restoring a hanael 26, but the casting has cracked around the trigger housing , does anyone know what material this is (its not steel!) and the best way to repair it.?
Also does anyone have any photos / dimensions or even an old spare pair of grip as I need to make these too.
thanks
Natty

According to John Griffiths' Encyclopedia of Spring Air Pistols (and therefore reliable), most of this model had zinc alloy frames and brown wood grip plates. The rare later model had an anodised alloy frame and bakelite grips.

Some pics of both versions here.

I don't know how to do the repair but it sounds to me like a specialist job.

[nattyjack]

Thanks for these pics, the bottom one appears to have a crack in the same place as mine !
Natty

[scrapman]

I also have a damaged Haenel 26 (purchased here). In this case the entire trigger guard and locking catch mechanism has snapped off and been lost. Cracks and breaks in load bearing alloy castings of this kind can't be fixed by any welding or brazing processes, or by using adhesives, which just leaves mechanical reinforcement using steel straps or similar, screwed/bolted to the castings. Zinc and aluminium alloys take threading quite well, or depending on position you may be able to drill through to a cavity and insert a steel nut, filed to a suitable shape if necessary.

In my case I will bend up a steel strap to replace the lost part, remove some alloy to recess the joining area, and fix it to the grip frame under the trigger guard position using countersunk steel screws secured by nuts or a drilled, threaded steel strip inside the frame. Unfortunately I haven't yet come up with a way to replace the catch mechanism - I'm still working on that!

[nattyjack]

shaped reinforcements ...thats an idea, i may look into it thanks
Natty