diff --git a/docs/plans/2026-06-04-057-feat-operator-handoff-salvage-lock-gate-plan.md b/docs/plans/2026-06-04-057-feat-operator-handoff-salvage-lock-gate-plan.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..db8f2ede
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/plans/2026-06-04-057-feat-operator-handoff-salvage-lock-gate-plan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+---
+title: "feat: Operator handoff salvage-only and scrape lock gate"
+type: feat
+status: complete
+date: 2026-06-04
+origin: /lfg — plan 056 deferred operator-handoff --salvage-only; proof lacks salvage-only mode and salvage smoke
+---
+
+# feat: Operator handoff salvage-only and scrape lock gate
+
+## Summary
+
+Add `--salvage-only` to `operator-handoff.sh` and `run-operator-proof.sh`, fail fast in `run-operator-validation.sh` when the archive-root scrape lock is held, and extend smokes.
+
+## Problem Frame
+
+After stopping a crashed KotOR export, operators need a handoff entry that merges partial temps without dry-run or Discord:
+
+```bash
+./scripts/operator-handoff.sh --salvage-only --target KotOR_discord_msgs --channel 221726893064454144
+```
+
+Validation should refuse to start a scrape while another checkout holds `{archive_root}/.dce-scrape.lock`.
+
+## Requirements
+
+| ID | Requirement |
+|----|-------------|
+| R1 | `operator-handoff.sh` accepts `--salvage-only` (runs documents salvage instead of dry-run) |
+| R2 | `run-operator-proof.sh` accepts `--salvage-only` (handoff + salvage per target, no scrape/prove) |
+| R3 | `run-operator-validation.sh` exits before scrape when lock is actively held |
+| R4 | Lock gate skipped when `DCE_SKIP_SCRAPE_LOCK=1` or `--skip-scrape` |
+| R5 | Smokes cover handoff and proof salvage-only; `run-all-smokes.sh` passes |
+
+## Implementation Units
+
+### U1. Handoff and proof salvage-only
+
+**Files:** `scripts/operator-handoff.sh`, `scripts/run-operator-proof.sh`, smokes
+
+### U2. Validation lock gate
+
+**Files:** `scripts/run-operator-validation.sh`
+
+### U3. Smoke gate
+
+**Verification:** `DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 ./scripts/run-all-smokes.sh`
+
+## Scope Boundaries
+
+### Deferred
+
+- Live KotOR catch-up on host
+- Docs refresh for new flags
diff --git a/scripts/operator-handoff.sh b/scripts/operator-handoff.sh
index fface363..6f9b81ca 100755
--- a/scripts/operator-handoff.sh
+++ b/scripts/operator-handoff.sh
@@ -11,21 +11,24 @@ VERIFY_READY="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/verify-operator-ready.sh"
 DOCUMENTS_SCRAPE="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh"
 LOCK_STATUS="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/scrape-lock-status.sh"
 SKIP_DF=0
+SALVAGE_ONLY=0
 TARGET=""
 CHANNEL_ARGS=()
 
 usage() {
   cat <<EOF
 Usage:
-  $(basename "$0") [--config PATH] [--skip-df] [--target NAME] [--channel ID]
+  $(basename "$0") [--config PATH] [--skip-df] [--target NAME] [--channel ID] [--salvage-only]
 
 Run operator handoff checks before cron install or a full scrape:
   1. Free-space summary (archive_root + repo)
   2. verify-operator-ready (jq, compose, auth, archives)
-  3. run-documents-scrape --dry-run (archive paths only)
+  3. scrape lock status (when available)
+  4. run-documents-scrape --dry-run OR --salvage-only
 
-  --target NAME   Limit dry-run scrape plan to one configured target
-  --channel ID    With exactly one --target, limit dry-run to channel ID (repeatable)
+  --target NAME   Limit documents step to one configured target
+  --channel ID    With exactly one --target, limit to channel ID (repeatable)
+  --salvage-only  Merge stale .dce-temp exports only (no dry-run, no Discord scrape)
 
 Environment:
   DCE_MIN_FREE_MB   Minimum MiB free (default 1024 in verify-operator-ready)
@@ -69,6 +72,10 @@ main() {
         SKIP_DF=1
         shift
         ;;
+      --salvage-only)
+        SALVAGE_ONLY=1
+        shift
+        ;;
       --target)
         [[ $# -ge 2 ]] || die "Missing value for --target."
         TARGET=$2
@@ -114,17 +121,26 @@ main() {
     fi
   fi
 
-  local -a dry_run_args=(--dry-run --config "$CONFIG_PATH")
-  [[ -n "$TARGET" ]] && dry_run_args+=(--target "$TARGET")
-  dry_run_args+=("${CHANNEL_ARGS[@]}")
-  "$DOCUMENTS_SCRAPE" "${dry_run_args[@]}"
-
-  printf '\nHandoff complete. Safe to run:\n'
-  printf '  ./scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh'
+  local -a documents_args=(--config "$CONFIG_PATH")
+  [[ -n "$TARGET" ]] && documents_args+=(--target "$TARGET")
+  documents_args+=("${CHANNEL_ARGS[@]}")
+  if (( SALVAGE_ONLY )); then
+    documents_args+=(--salvage-only)
+    "$DOCUMENTS_SCRAPE" "${documents_args[@]}"
+    printf '\nHandoff complete (salvage-only). Next:\n'
+    printf '  ./scripts/run-operator-validation.sh --salvage-before-scrape'
+  else
+    documents_args+=(--dry-run)
+    "$DOCUMENTS_SCRAPE" "${documents_args[@]}"
+    printf '\nHandoff complete. Safe to run:\n'
+    printf '  ./scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh'
+  fi
   [[ -n "$TARGET" ]] && printf ' --target %s' "$TARGET"
   ((${#CHANNEL_ARGS[@]})) && printf ' %s' "${CHANNEL_ARGS[*]}"
   printf '\n'
-  printf '  ./scripts/setup-cron.sh --dry-run\n'
+  if (( ! SALVAGE_ONLY )); then
+    printf '  ./scripts/setup-cron.sh --dry-run\n'
+  fi
 }
 
 main "$@"
diff --git a/scripts/run-operator-proof.sh b/scripts/run-operator-proof.sh
index 007b198f..d5d19c8d 100755
--- a/scripts/run-operator-proof.sh
+++ b/scripts/run-operator-proof.sh
@@ -17,12 +17,13 @@ TARGET=""
 SYNC_GUI_FLAG=0
 DRY_RUN=0
 SALVAGE_BEFORE=0
+SALVAGE_ONLY=0
 CHANNEL_ARGS=()
 
 usage() {
   cat <<EOF
 Usage:
-  $(basename "$0") [--target NAME] [--channel ID] [--config PATH] [--sync-gui] [--dry-run] [--salvage-before-scrape]
+  $(basename "$0") [--target NAME] [--channel ID] [--config PATH] [--sync-gui] [--dry-run] [--salvage-only] [--salvage-before-scrape]
 
 End-to-end operator proof:
   operator-handoff → [optional salvage] → incremental scrape → prove-incremental-append
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ End-to-end operator proof:
 When --target is omitted, all enabled targets in the config are processed.
 
   --channel ID  With exactly one --target, limit scrape/prove to channel ID (repeatable)
+  --salvage-only  Handoff + merge stale .dce-temp exports only (no Discord scrape or prove)
   --salvage-before-scrape  Merge stale .dce-temp exports before incremental scrape
 
 Logs append to logs/operator-proof-<timestamp>.log
@@ -66,6 +68,10 @@ main() {
         SALVAGE_BEFORE=1
         shift
         ;;
+      --salvage-only)
+        SALVAGE_ONLY=1
+        shift
+        ;;
       --channel)
         [[ $# -ge 2 ]] || die "Missing value for --channel."
         CHANNEL_ARGS+=(--channel "$2")
@@ -83,6 +89,13 @@ main() {
 
   [[ -f "$CONFIG_PATH" ]] || die "Missing config: $CONFIG_PATH"
 
+  if (( SALVAGE_ONLY == 1 && DRY_RUN == 1 )); then
+    die "--salvage-only cannot be combined with --dry-run."
+  fi
+  if (( SALVAGE_ONLY == 1 && SALVAGE_BEFORE == 1 )); then
+    die "--salvage-only and --salvage-before-scrape are mutually exclusive."
+  fi
+
   local -a targets=()
   if [[ -n "$TARGET" ]]; then
     targets=("$TARGET")
@@ -115,12 +128,17 @@ main() {
     local -a handoff_args=(--config "$CONFIG_PATH")
     [[ -n "$TARGET" ]] && handoff_args+=(--target "$TARGET")
     handoff_args+=("${CHANNEL_ARGS[@]}")
+    (( SALVAGE_ONLY )) && handoff_args+=(--salvage-only)
     "$HANDOFF" "${handoff_args[@]}"
 
     if (( DRY_RUN == 1 )); then
       printf '\nDry run complete (no Discord scrape).\n'
       exit 0
     fi
+    if (( SALVAGE_ONLY == 1 )); then
+      printf '\nSalvage-only proof complete (no Discord scrape or append proof).\n'
+      exit 0
+    fi
 
     for name in "${targets[@]}"; do
       printf '\n--- Target: %s ---\n' "$name"
diff --git a/scripts/run-operator-validation.sh b/scripts/run-operator-validation.sh
index a4c0ed2f..04e3c745 100755
--- a/scripts/run-operator-validation.sh
+++ b/scripts/run-operator-validation.sh
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ SYNC_GUI="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/sync-token-from-gui.sh"
 VERIFY_READY="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/verify-operator-ready.sh"
 DOCUMENTS_SCRAPE="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh"
 AUDIT_JSON="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/audit-archive-json.sh"
+LOCK_STATUS="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/scrape-lock-status.sh"
 
 DRY_RUN=0
 SKIP_SCRAPE=0
@@ -90,6 +91,16 @@ audit_targets() {
   (( failures == 0 ))
 }
 
+ensure_scrape_lock_available() {
+  if [[ "${DCE_SKIP_SCRAPE_LOCK:-0}" == "1" ]]; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+  [[ -x "$LOCK_STATUS" ]] || return 0
+  if ! "$LOCK_STATUS" --config "$CONFIG_PATH"; then
+    die "Scrape lock is held; another scrape may be running. Inspect: $LOCK_STATUS --config $CONFIG_PATH"
+  fi
+}
+
 run_documents_scrape() {
   local -a scrape_args=(--config "$CONFIG_PATH")
   scrape_args+=("${CHANNEL_ARGS[@]}")
@@ -280,15 +291,20 @@ main() {
 
     if (( SKIP_SCRAPE )); then
       log_step "Skip scrape requested."
-    elif (( PER_TARGET )) && [[ -z "$TARGET" ]]; then
-      scrape_per_target || failures=$((failures + 1))
     else
-      if run_documents_scrape; then
-        if (( DRY_RUN == 0 && failures == 0 )); then
-          audit_targets || failures=$((failures + 1))
+      ensure_scrape_lock_available || failures=$((failures + 1))
+      if (( failures == 0 )); then
+        if (( PER_TARGET )) && [[ -z "$TARGET" ]]; then
+          scrape_per_target || failures=$((failures + 1))
+        else
+          if run_documents_scrape; then
+            if (( DRY_RUN == 0 && failures == 0 )); then
+              audit_targets || failures=$((failures + 1))
+            fi
+          else
+            failures=$((failures + 1))
+          fi
         fi
-      else
-        failures=$((failures + 1))
       fi
     fi
 
diff --git a/scripts/tests/operator-handoff-smoke.sh b/scripts/tests/operator-handoff-smoke.sh
index ea6e300e..9abef5bd 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/operator-handoff-smoke.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/operator-handoff-smoke.sh
@@ -70,4 +70,25 @@ if ! grep -q 'Scrape lock status' <<<"$handoff_output"; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
+set +e
+salvage_output=$(
+  DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 \
+    DCE_CONFIG_FILE="$CONFIG_PATH" \
+    DCE_ENV_FILE="$ENV_PATH" \
+    DCE_SKIP_SCRAPE_LOCK=1 \
+    "$HANDOFF" --config "$CONFIG_PATH" --skip-df --salvage-only --target demo 2>&1
+)
+salvage_status=$?
+set -e
+
+if [[ "$salvage_status" -ne 0 ]] || ! grep -q 'Handoff complete (salvage-only)' <<<"$salvage_output"; then
+  printf 'operator-handoff --salvage-only failed (status=%s)\n' "$salvage_status" >&2
+  printf '%s\n' "$salvage_output" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+grep -q 'salvage completed' <<<"$salvage_output" || {
+  printf 'operator-handoff --salvage-only missing salvage completed marker\n' >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+
 printf 'operator-handoff-smoke: ok\n'
diff --git a/scripts/tests/run-operator-proof-smoke.sh b/scripts/tests/run-operator-proof-smoke.sh
index 58f0774e..f31b363c 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/run-operator-proof-smoke.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/run-operator-proof-smoke.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ PROOF="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-operator-proof.sh"
 TMP_DIR=$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dce-operator-proof-smoke.XXXXXX")
 CONFIG_PATH="$TMP_DIR/config.json"
 ENV_PATH="$TMP_DIR/scrape.env"
+mkdir -p "$TMP_DIR/logs"
 
 cleanup() {
   rm -rf "$TMP_DIR"
@@ -54,4 +55,55 @@ grep -q 'Operator proof run plan' <<<"$output" || {
   exit 1
 }
 
+set +e
+salvage_output=$(
+  DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 \
+    DCE_CONFIG_FILE="$CONFIG_PATH" \
+    DCE_ENV_FILE="$ENV_PATH" \
+    DCE_SKIP_SCRAPE_LOCK=1 \
+    "$PROOF" --config "$CONFIG_PATH" --target demo --salvage-only 2>&1
+)
+salvage_status=$?
+set -e
+
+if [[ "$salvage_status" -ne 0 ]] || ! grep -q 'Salvage-only proof complete' <<<"$salvage_output"; then
+  printf 'run-operator-proof --salvage-only failed (status=%s)\n' "$salvage_status" >&2
+  printf '%s\n' "$salvage_output" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+command -v flock >/dev/null 2>&1 && {
+  LOCK_FILE="$TMP_DIR/archive/.dce-scrape.lock"
+  HOLDER_PID=""
+  (
+    exec {lock_fd}>>"$LOCK_FILE"
+    flock -n "$lock_fd" || exit 1
+    sleep 120
+  ) &
+  HOLDER_PID=$!
+  sleep 0.2
+
+  set +e
+  blocked_output=$(
+    DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 \
+      DCE_CONFIG_FILE="$CONFIG_PATH" \
+      DCE_ENV_FILE="$ENV_PATH" \
+      DCE_LOG_DIR="$TMP_DIR/logs" \
+      "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-operator-validation.sh" \
+      --salvage-only --target demo --config "$CONFIG_PATH" \
+      --log-file "$TMP_DIR/logs/lock-blocked.log" 2>&1
+  )
+  blocked_status=$?
+  set -e
+
+  kill "$HOLDER_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+  wait "$HOLDER_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+
+  if [[ "$blocked_status" -eq 0 ]] || ! grep -q 'Scrape lock is held' <<<"$blocked_output"; then
+    printf 'expected validation to fail when scrape lock held (status=%s)\n' "$blocked_status" >&2
+    printf '%s\n' "$blocked_output" >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+}
+
 printf 'run-operator-proof-smoke: ok\n'