The pics doesn't do the kit justice. While the receiver pieces look like maganese it actually has a nice zinc phosphate coating - will unfortunately do a maganese when done.
EDIT - Discovered that I had a broken recuperator after leaving some flesh behind putting the other springs in! See the Sticky Forum for assembly directions. Ever see a 43 yo dance around the room with a recuperator dangling from his finger? Called Dan and he is sending a replacement out Monday (Dan, if you're reading this - no big rush - get those kits out to the rest of the folks first - gonna be a week or two before I'm ready for it anyway.)
Know this fellas, Dan is busting some major butt right now. Yes, he was still packing/shipping kits when I called today (Saturday). Bear in mind that some of the pins in these kits were peened in at time of manufacture 60 some odd years ago - these pins were punched out - making them not readily reuseable. The only reason Dan put them with the kits is so you can measure the length/diameter and find suitable material to make a replacement . As I recall, his ad mentions something about "some pins may be missing". A trip to Homo Depot and $5 will get you all the stuff you'll need to make pins.
When I opened the box here at work a few comments were made about how scruffy the stock looked. Oy! Scratched/gouged stock? For crying out loud THESE WERE MILITARY WEAPONS, not some pampered Tiffany lamp. Dings, scratches, chips and like are to be expected. I consider them to be "Character Flaws".
BTW, The return address on the box is "A Village Locksmith" - hows that for a "discreet, plain brown wrapper"?
they pooched it. If any of the cuts will need donor material this will be the one. The markings are there, but they aren't going to survive cleanup and welding intact.