Good on you for paying it forward. It's an excellent book for those serious enough to get the basics into line.
books on gunsmithing
- Thread starter ShawnRich
- Start date
Good on you for paying it forward. It's an excellent book for those serious enough to get the basics into line.
Yeah i pmed him about it. It is very nice of him to offer it up for shiping costs
Depending on condition, that's a $200 book.
Maybe a fifth of a good Rye/Scotch would be a nice offering of gratitude, even though he isn't expecting it. Only if you can afford it of course.
I can tell you're appreciative. Hope you get in before a horde answers his offer.
thanks and yes I was going to send more then the 25$ requested
that's no problem, thanks anyway. I just hope the person who gets it actually uses it and applies the info within
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Yes, but your query is way to vague and broad for me to want to begin making recommendations.
Yup, I'm in the same boat. Just waiting for the OP to provide an answer.
Sorry. I have been away from the internet for a few days and just saw this pending question. Good question!
I do not know even know if I can answer it. Perhaps using the term "Gunsmith" is misleading. I want to understand the workings of firearms a little better. I am not looking to start a career but I also know it is a struggling field (as many trades are) for interested persons. I have a good little shop, that, with someone who knew what he was doing, could probably have some fun with repairing firearms. I am most happy when I have a practical project to work on on the lathe or mill. I have managed to secure a few rifles to work on and learn with, but don't really know much about them. The mechanics seem straight forward but I think it is a trade that has more twists and turns than ..say...even a car. There seems to be a myriad of special tools and techniques, and I am thinking only of rifle actions. Then the different ways to attach barrels, how to change them, etc. Then the wood working involved.... At least with a car, one can get a "service manual" and then use basic skills to complete a task but I am under the impression that this is not the way with firearms. A good example is my other thread regarding the Remington 525...It should be a relatively simple fix, (granted, I have not really looked at it too hard yet) but I doubt that there is a repair manual for a Rem 525. Are there manuals for such rifles?
Since posting here, I have managed to get some info from the internet and the archive website referenced above. I have also ordered one of the Kinks books. Is "Gunsmithing" more of a learn by doing trade? (I guess most trades are)
In a purchase, I have managed a few projects to work on and the Rem 525 is the least valuable and almost worst so I figure I have nothing to lose by taking it apart, learning the terms of the parts and such. But in doing so, I realized that there are some tricks and tools necessary to even disassemble an action. And the questions in the thread show that if I had more experience, I would know that the insert is not supposed to be "splayed" like that, should slip in versus being persuaded, if the insert is assembled correctly, etc. On more popular guns, ie, a Winchester 94, I can find videos online on even the order in which to disassemble it. So some book that might form a base of knowledge on which to build upon would be the answer.
From reading posts, it seems that many of us have an interest in working on rifles. I guess I am just asking for some reference material from those that have been there before me.
Thank you all for posting. The information provided has been helpful. Sorry I missed out on the Modern Gunsmithing offer. That was very generous of DaveF. But a search does yield many books available so with info here, I will start collecting a few and see where I go with it.
Thanks
Cheers,
Shawn
Yes, even that is a broad topic. While the manufacturers usually have Service/Repair/Armorers Manual they frequently are not available outside of the factory. Books will many times be a bit generic in nature rather than very specific; IE 'how to mount a scope' vs. 'how to convert a Browning A5 2½" 16ga to 2¾" ammunition". Older books tend to have more 'gunsmithing' info than newer books. If you are searching for a book on a specific topic then by all means perform that search, otherwise buy every book you happen upon. You will gain some knowledge with each book, though a large portion of the info may be of little interest to you.
Firearms in general tend to work along the same lines, you pull the trigger and they go bang. The education comes from learning what happens in between those two occurrences. The firing sequence, extraction, ejection, feeding and safety functions while different between all models. the functions are present. Watch how the parts work in relation to each other, use a factory parts list and schematic as reference. The part names will many times tell you what that parts function is (Butt Plate Screw).
Basic tools are readily available, screwdrivers, hammers, punches, a bench block and a vise. Buy other tools as needed.
A rule-of-thumb..always alter the cheap part, and always alter the readily available cheap part.
I like that one!
I think as I start fumbling along, things will come together. I have discovered that the hardest part of getting into this hobby is acquiring projects to work on. Now that I have done that, it will be a matter of putting in some time and researching each issue as it comes along. I am hoping that posting specific questions here will garner some interest and input. Currently, the bolt sticking in the Rem525, my biggest issue is stock making since every rifle needs a new one. When I think of gunsmithing, I picture machine work (metal) but so far, it looks like wood working is in my future.
I realize now that my opening question here was vague but being new, the old saying applies..."One does not know what he does not know" so looking at the issues one at a time will narrow the search.
Thank you all that responded. I appreciate the polite and informative answers and input!
Cheers,
Shawn
- Location
- Western Manitoba
If you think that you will be working with wood - I would suggest a book from Lee Valley about "sharpening" - is called "The Complete Guide to Sharpening" by Leonard Lee. Is like working with steel - very nearly a "lost art" these days. I had read somewhere that apprentices in Europe spend months, possibly years, learning to sharpen cutting edges - they go whole hog as far as heat treat, drawing temper, etc., besides honing the shape and edge. You will find is nearly a joy to use a chisel that cuts into the grain and then back out through that grain without splitting it. Compared to beating on it with a mallet, and getting splinters all over. Or when you need a specific shape of cutter - just make your own.
I had a reasonable collection of gunsmithing books a couple of decades ago, but sold them off when I was doing the gunshow circuit. Now I'm going around and re-acquiring them all again.
For woodwork, I would recommend :
Professional Stockmaking, David L Wesbrook. There was a sequel planned, but it looks like it never happened.
Checkering & Carving of Gunstocks, Monte Kennedy. Should read "checkering & decorative carving of gunstocks" not how to inlet one.
Do It Yourself Gunsmithing, Jim Carmichel, has some useful tips on inletting & checkering, deals mostly with semi-finished blanks.
Gunsmithing, Roy F. Dunlap
Gun Owners Book of Care, Repair & Improvement, also by Roy F. Dunlap.
Modern Gunsmithing, Clyde Baker. I have fond memories of this book; I spilled Hoppes #9 on it, and I was always getting it down to smell it.
Modern Gunsmith, James V. Howe, 2-volume set.
Kuhnhausen Shop Manuals, for firearm specific information.
Gunsmith Kinks series, I haven't acquired yet, but it looks like I might have to.
There was an NRA book on gunsmithing, I can't recall the specific title, but it had some interesting projects detailed.
A lot of these books were published 1950's-70's, so you won't find info on how to tune an AR or set up a 1911. There's a lot on restoration, rebarelling and how to sporterize a mil surp.
For woodwork, I would recommend :
Professional Stockmaking, David L Wesbrook. There was a sequel planned, but it looks like it never happened.
Checkering & Carving of Gunstocks, Monte Kennedy. Should read "checkering & decorative carving of gunstocks" not how to inlet one.
Do It Yourself Gunsmithing, Jim Carmichel, has some useful tips on inletting & checkering, deals mostly with semi-finished blanks.
Gunsmithing, Roy F. Dunlap
Gun Owners Book of Care, Repair & Improvement, also by Roy F. Dunlap.
Modern Gunsmithing, Clyde Baker. I have fond memories of this book; I spilled Hoppes #9 on it, and I was always getting it down to smell it.
Modern Gunsmith, James V. Howe, 2-volume set.
Kuhnhausen Shop Manuals, for firearm specific information.
Gunsmith Kinks series, I haven't acquired yet, but it looks like I might have to.
There was an NRA book on gunsmithing, I can't recall the specific title, but it had some interesting projects detailed.
A lot of these books were published 1950's-70's, so you won't find info on how to tune an AR or set up a 1911. There's a lot on restoration, rebarelling and how to sporterize a mil surp.
I think you will find yourself making a lot of specialty and single use tools
turn-screws come to mind. I made a couple bench blocks, a good chunk of hard maple/birch/something with a bunch of diffrent diameter holes and a few routed channels works just fine. (though if you plan on working a couple dozen 1911s... maybe buy a 1911 block )Thanks everyone. Nothing to add but all of the input is much appreciated. I will research the books referenced add them to my collection as needed. Since venturing into this hobby (shooting in general) and throwing in an interest in working on the rifles too, I am experiencing information overload! These forums are great.
Cheers,
Happy New Year!
Shawn
Cheers,
Happy New Year!
Shawn
The texts by Howe, Dunlap, Baker and Vickery are the classics.
There are many more worthwhile books. Some specialized, like Kuhnhausen's series.
Wolfe's Gunsmithing Projects has a lot of useful varied information.
There are also technical books like Otteson's Bolt Actions that worth having.
Building a reference library is worth doing.
If you read the Gunsmith's Kinks books carefully, you will even find a suggestion that I submitted.
There are many more worthwhile books. Some specialized, like Kuhnhausen's series.
Wolfe's Gunsmithing Projects has a lot of useful varied information.
There are also technical books like Otteson's Bolt Actions that worth having.
Building a reference library is worth doing.
If you read the Gunsmith's Kinks books carefully, you will even find a suggestion that I submitted.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Best of luck! I am not a gunsmith - just a home tinkerer - I epoxy bedded my first rifle about 40 years ago - even managed to glue that one to the stock because I did not use release agent all over. Then cracked that stock trying to remove it. Then got to fix that stock. Is still going good - my wife, son and daughter all got their first deer with that one, and my brother-in-law has it on Vancouver Island these days. So, books, time, attempts and mistakes are going to be your teachers, if you do not have a Mentor or a Master Tradesman to guide your efforts.
I do not know where you are at for work space or for affording things. I found that I have easily spent the equivalent of a decent rifle and scope on reference books, and then likely similar on tools - and that includes a metal lathe and a welder - both of which I am very much still learning to use. But, I think, to me, it all starts with very mundane stuff - how to make a chisel sharp, how to make a screwdriver fit snuggly within the full depth and width of a screw slot, how to use a file, how to measure with a vernier scale calliper, or a micrometer. In my real "other life", I apprenticed as an electrician, went to Tech, put in the years, and got my Red Seal ticket - so I do have a bit of insight into what might be expected of a "qualified" and "competent" tradesman. And I was lucky enough to apprentice with Journeymen who received their training in Wales, Britain and Austria - from them, I came to believe that we do not really know what "good" looks like - we tend to feel that "good enough" is okay.
I do not know where you are at for work space or for affording things. I found that I have easily spent the equivalent of a decent rifle and scope on reference books, and then likely similar on tools - and that includes a metal lathe and a welder - both of which I am very much still learning to use. But, I think, to me, it all starts with very mundane stuff - how to make a chisel sharp, how to make a screwdriver fit snuggly within the full depth and width of a screw slot, how to use a file, how to measure with a vernier scale calliper, or a micrometer. In my real "other life", I apprenticed as an electrician, went to Tech, put in the years, and got my Red Seal ticket - so I do have a bit of insight into what might be expected of a "qualified" and "competent" tradesman. And I was lucky enough to apprentice with Journeymen who received their training in Wales, Britain and Austria - from them, I came to believe that we do not really know what "good" looks like - we tend to feel that "good enough" is okay.
I am going to have a few books to put up for sale in the next while.
What exchange forum would they be best suited in??
No, I will not send out list to PM's. I type with one finger and not computer skilled at 75.
Thank you; Wayne
What exchange forum would they be best suited in??
No, I will not send out list to PM's. I type with one finger and not computer skilled at 75.
Thank you; Wayne
That, right there.
If you ever watch any of the Forgotten Weapons series, and see the library that he has in the background, consider that he has only skimmed the surface!
In "Exchange of all other stuff"
