hello C&V i've never had a frame failure in the decades of riding classic lugged steel frames but i have a Medici Gran Turismo i built up and rode for a year. it was a wonderful riding swift reynolds 531 sport tourer. started making a clinking / creaking sound when out of the saddle . turns out there's a crack at the end of the lower lug on the downtube. **any frame builders / frame repairers want to give opinions on repair options for this frame ?** my opinion is the frame is toast or you'd possibly have to torch the headtube lug and bottom bracket lug and replace the downtube .

found an article in the 1993 bridgestone catalog describing this exact stress point "common type of frame failure occurs on the downtube near the end of the lower head lug. if the point of the lug is too sharp, it doesn't flex with the tube but bites into the tube like a can opener"