Gunsmithing books
- Thread starter .264 Win Mag
- Start date
Having tinkered with guns for a few years, I've just started looking into books. So far I have Patrick Sweeney's books on rifles and handguns (1 each) , which seem to be pretty good. He spends (or wastes, depending on your point of view) a little ink at the beginning of the Rifle book talking about rifles in general before getting down to specifics.
I've heard good things about Ed Matunas, pro and con re Roy Dunlap.
Stuart
I've heard good things about Ed Matunas, pro and con re Roy Dunlap.
Stuart
Gunsmithing by Roy F. Dunlap
Used ones show up on ebay.ca or Amazon.ca has new for $35. Hard to beat for a general gunsmithing book for a beginner. It was written decades ago and still in print today because it's one of the better gunsmithing books out there.
Used ones show up on ebay.ca or Amazon.ca has new for $35. Hard to beat for a general gunsmithing book for a beginner. It was written decades ago and still in print today because it's one of the better gunsmithing books out there.
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I have Roy Dunlap's book, one by Jim Carmichael, and 3 of Brownell's "Gunsmith Kinks" books. Volume 4 of "Gunsmith Kinks" is out now, so I'll be picking it up too.
I'm in camp away from home right now, but I have a couple of others as well that I can't think of the titles.
Dunlap's book was originally put out in the early '50's, but lots of good information. The Brownell books are full of tips, tricks and useful information provided by various gunsmiths and tinkerers from all over the world. Entertaining as well as informative.
I always have at least one of my gunsmithing books on the bedside table to re-read at night before I go to sleep
I'm in camp away from home right now, but I have a couple of others as well that I can't think of the titles.
Dunlap's book was originally put out in the early '50's, but lots of good information. The Brownell books are full of tips, tricks and useful information provided by various gunsmiths and tinkerers from all over the world. Entertaining as well as informative.
I always have at least one of my gunsmithing books on the bedside table to re-read at night before I go to sleep
Lots of kudos for Dunlap... maybe I'd better get one myself.
As to used books, don't forget abebooks.com. They're based out of Victoria, B.C. but have thousands of participating stores across N.A. and even Europe. I just checked and they have a couple of HUNDRED entries for books by Roy Dunlap!
Stuart
As to used books, don't forget abebooks.com. They're based out of Victoria, B.C. but have thousands of participating stores across N.A. and even Europe. I just checked and they have a couple of HUNDRED entries for books by Roy Dunlap!
Stuart
All depends on what you want to do.
One of the best gunsmithing book ever made is "The Modern Gunsmith, Vol I & II" by James V. Howe (ISBN 0-517-38583X). You can't go wrong with that book, even if it was written in 1934, re-edited in 1982 and maybe later.
In those years when this book was written, there was no "commercial" ready-available supply of all sort and you really find the basis of the skilled gunsmiths as it was in the days when everything was still done by hand.
To add to the above cited references;
A cheap and easy to find one is Stoeger publications "Gunsmithing at Home" in at least two volumes (you can find these in almost every "serious" firearms reatilers).
Then for specific, really technical publications, any of the "Shop Manuals" from Jerry Kuhnhausen by Heritage Books.
One of the best gunsmithing book ever made is "The Modern Gunsmith, Vol I & II" by James V. Howe (ISBN 0-517-38583X). You can't go wrong with that book, even if it was written in 1934, re-edited in 1982 and maybe later.
In those years when this book was written, there was no "commercial" ready-available supply of all sort and you really find the basis of the skilled gunsmiths as it was in the days when everything was still done by hand.
To add to the above cited references;
A cheap and easy to find one is Stoeger publications "Gunsmithing at Home" in at least two volumes (you can find these in almost every "serious" firearms reatilers).
Then for specific, really technical publications, any of the "Shop Manuals" from Jerry Kuhnhausen by Heritage Books.
The NRA's Gunsmithing Guides are pretty good. Amazon.ca lists one. Not exactly cheap at $119.90Cdn though. Books, in general, aren't cheap.
Gun shows are usually good places to find books. As is your local gun shop. Don't discount your public library either.
Gun shows are usually good places to find books. As is your local gun shop. Don't discount your public library either.
The NRA books are good. I bought The NRA Gunsmithing Guide for $30 on ebay.ca. I have bought a lot of my books on ebay.
For shotguns: The Gun Digest Book of Shotgun Gunsmithing by Ralph T. Walker. Some of The Gun Digest gunsmithing manuals were too basic, but this one is very good and available regularly on ebay for $10-$15.
The Modern Gunsmith Volume 1 and 2 by Howe is the classic gunsmithing manual. You can buy it on CD for USD$20 on ebay regularly, as the copyright has expired.
Introduction to Modern Gunsmithing by Macfarland is one of the better ones I've found, but tends to be more expensive. You'll probably have to check online used book stores to find this one.
Darn... I'm going to have to build a bunch of new bookshelves in the new house.
BTW, I checked Abe Books and found a whole whack of "Intro to Modern Gunsmithing" from $13.35 USD
(abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&tn=Introduction+to+Modern+Gunsmithing&x=94&y=21)
StuartDarn... I'm going to have to build a bunch of new bookshelves in the new house.
BTW, I checked Abe Books and found a whole whack of "Intro to Modern Gunsmithing" from $13.35 USD
(abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&tn=Introduction+to+Modern+Gunsmithing&x=94&y=21)
One thing I've learned looking for out of print books is when you find a deal you better go for it or someone else will...
If you don't mind some stains and maybe some handwritten notes in the margins you can find some deals occasionally.
From my library:
"Gunstock Finishing and Care" by A. Donald Newell.
This book has detailed introductions to various woods for selection on gunstocks. It also has instructions for methods of application amd treatments for early gunstocks, inculding militry, antique and early gunstocks.
"Bob Brownell's Gunsmith Kinks." Edited and Compiled by Frank Brownell.
This book is a hoot! But it is also filled with hundreds of hints and techniques that can be used by anyone! It comes from the correspondence between Bob Brownell and thousands of gunsmiths over many years.There is a complete section on the Gunstock.
"Gun Owners Book of care, Repair and Improvement" by Roy Dunlap.
This book has a complete chapter on the gunstock, with full details on inletting for the receiver and triggerguard assemblies.
"Professional Care and Finishing of Gun Metal" by John E. Traister.
This deals soley with the metal part of firearms. Lots of useful info in this book, inculding plating, browning and blueing gunparts.
I hope you find this helpfull. Sorry, no ISBN numbers, all the books are too old for that!
And some more,
Two more books on gunsmithing that I have picked up :
"Learn Gunsmithing. The troubleshooting method."
By John Traister.
ISBN: 0 87691 317 6
This book is broken up into the different class of firearms, with an introduction and a chapter on 'Tools of The Trade' inculding detailed instructions on building a bench.
By action type, there are four chapters on 22 rimfire firearms, five on the various rifles, three on shotguns and one each on revolvers and pistols.
While the book is not a comphrensive manuel on your favorite firearm, it is a good reference for most types of problems you may encounter.
The second book is "Do-It-Yourself Gunsmithing"
By Jim Carmichel.
ISBN: 0 06 010638 7
This book is divided into six parts and an appendix.
Part one covers the basic gunsmithing tools and skills. Part two deals with stockmaking and is headed "The Custom Look". Part three introduces shuch items as checkering, carving and stock inlays! Phew!
Part four takes us into metalworking, and is headed "The Professional Look".
Part five is three chapters on building muzzleloaderfrom a kit, respectively; first a Harpers Ferry Pistol. Next a Brown bess Musket; And finally, a Kentucky Rifle. The forth chapter in this section is "A Fast And Accutate Way to Inlet Barrels and Locks."
The last part, Part Six, is two chapters on making, first a wood shooting bench and, second, a concrete shooting bench.
The appendix is sources of tools, supplies and equipment. This may contain some useful sources.
Dated, the book was printed in 1977, but a lot of usefull material in this book!
"Gunstock Finishing and Care" by A. Donald Newell.
This book has detailed introductions to various woods for selection on gunstocks. It also has instructions for methods of application amd treatments for early gunstocks, inculding militry, antique and early gunstocks.
"Bob Brownell's Gunsmith Kinks." Edited and Compiled by Frank Brownell.
This book is a hoot! But it is also filled with hundreds of hints and techniques that can be used by anyone! It comes from the correspondence between Bob Brownell and thousands of gunsmiths over many years.There is a complete section on the Gunstock.
"Gun Owners Book of care, Repair and Improvement" by Roy Dunlap.
This book has a complete chapter on the gunstock, with full details on inletting for the receiver and triggerguard assemblies.
"Professional Care and Finishing of Gun Metal" by John E. Traister.
This deals soley with the metal part of firearms. Lots of useful info in this book, inculding plating, browning and blueing gunparts.
I hope you find this helpfull. Sorry, no ISBN numbers, all the books are too old for that!
And some more,
Two more books on gunsmithing that I have picked up :
"Learn Gunsmithing. The troubleshooting method."
By John Traister.
ISBN: 0 87691 317 6
This book is broken up into the different class of firearms, with an introduction and a chapter on 'Tools of The Trade' inculding detailed instructions on building a bench.
By action type, there are four chapters on 22 rimfire firearms, five on the various rifles, three on shotguns and one each on revolvers and pistols.
While the book is not a comphrensive manuel on your favorite firearm, it is a good reference for most types of problems you may encounter.
The second book is "Do-It-Yourself Gunsmithing"
By Jim Carmichel.
ISBN: 0 06 010638 7
This book is divided into six parts and an appendix.
Part one covers the basic gunsmithing tools and skills. Part two deals with stockmaking and is headed "The Custom Look". Part three introduces shuch items as checkering, carving and stock inlays! Phew!
Part four takes us into metalworking, and is headed "The Professional Look".
Part five is three chapters on building muzzleloaderfrom a kit, respectively; first a Harpers Ferry Pistol. Next a Brown bess Musket; And finally, a Kentucky Rifle. The forth chapter in this section is "A Fast And Accutate Way to Inlet Barrels and Locks."
The last part, Part Six, is two chapters on making, first a wood shooting bench and, second, a concrete shooting bench.
The appendix is sources of tools, supplies and equipment. This may contain some useful sources.
Dated, the book was printed in 1977, but a lot of usefull material in this book!
