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Military Firearm Restoration Corner

How Hard (Or Easy) Is It To Build A Cetme From A Parts Kit And Receiver Flat ?


spacemanperry

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I'm new to this forum, and have recently taken a liking to the Cetme rifle. I want one,but being a former member of the middle class living in reduced circmumsances, this economic status necessitates a different route to having a Cetme, namely building. I have priced a parts kit from Centerfire Systems for $179.95, a barrel from Bravo 5 for $187.00 and a receiver flat for $95 from Bravo 5. The key questions are: do I need to fill out a 4473 form for the receiver flat at one of my local gunstores ?, how hard is it to bend the receiver flat in a press to shape it to where it needs to be to be welded ?, would it be better to send te parts to a builder to have him or her build the rifle for me ? And would this cost less, the same, or more than outright buying a Cetme from GunsAmerica ? Cheapest Cetme I've seen there is $500. RSVP and any information or knowledge/experience would be helpful.

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If I remember correctly the "Cetme" has many curve surfaces. Getting the radius of each surface to align correctly is a problem that is hard to solve without the dies and press to bend it. Many of us have made the AK receiver well enough to work but it has four flat sides and can be realigned with a large hammer and bucking bar. There is a world of difference in what allowable slop between these two rifles. After bending up the flat you must "Heat Treat" spacific part of the flat. The list goes on of things that must be done inorder to have a rifle that is safe to fire. If you have no experiance in working with an annealed spring steel I would recommend buying five flats, at least, or buying an already bent, heat treated and numbered, but unfinished receiver from someone who advertises in a publication like "Shotgun News".

It is a lot of work to make something as simple as the AK, bending the "Cetme" is a step or two above.

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If you decide to do a flat bend you will need to borrow or buy or build a pressing jig or your flat will go out of alignment when you bend and tack it prior to welding.

Also if you buy a barrel you need to make sure it isint already drilled for the barrel pin or it will not line up correctly and it is alot of work to refit it.

And last but not least make sure if you do decide to get a flat buy the shelf kit and clip the lower,you dont want a "constructive posession" charge looming over you

(Yes they can get you for that)...I recomend buying a premade receiver, you can get one for around 200 or so bucks....If you need more help let me know i am a FFl and

a gunsmith.....Chris

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