Build a Gunsmithing Library

A good gunsmithing library is as important as any tool you own. And a good library takes along time to put together, so if you haven’t already started one, start now! A good library (notice that I keep saying "good") is a big help is when you have disassembled some gun you’re not too familiar with, and put the loose parts in a box while you wait six weeks to six months or more for apart to come in.

Oftentimes, putting the gun back together is not nearly as easy as it was to take apart. (Ever notice that?) A quick trip to your library could save you lots of time and frustration. If you’re just getting started, make a point to write to every firearms company and distributor asking for any parts lists, disassembly instructions, and technical bulletins they have to offer. Be sure to include a copy of your FFL. You’ll be surprised at the amount of material you’ll receive.

Also check Shotgun News for reprints of old catalogs, as these often contain a wealth of information. I file all catalogs in my file cabinet for easy access. Not only are they helpful, but over the years they’ve become collectibles as well. Don’t overlook the help, however small, that an exploded drawing or disassembly brochure can be to you. If you haven’t already, buy the N. R.

A. firearms assembly & disassembly books, the Gun Digest disassembly/ assembly series, and any others you can find that include "how-to" information. If you have a gun in your shop for which there is no information available, photograph it as you disassemble it. You’ll become skilled with the camera as time goes on and, properly filed, these photographs can be invaluable. I use standard-size looseleaf notebooks. The larger ones are too hard to leaf through.

If there are a great many models or variations of a gun, I’ll put that gun in a separate notebook. Each notebook is labeled on the spine. As I obtain more data, I just keep adding notebooks. Put as many names on each notebook as you can. I even have a contents sheet in the front of each book, and checking this contents sheet will quickly tell you if you have what you need. Several of the larger companies put out technical bulletins for their various models.

Usually the prices are higher than for the "how-to" books, but these are well worth the money. Occasionally, you’ll find cutaway drawings or pictures where you least expect to find them. Either copy them, A Word to Our Readers About American Gunsmith’ s Mailing-List Policy Like many other publishers, we make portions of our customer list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services we believe you may enjoy.

Indeed, in all likelihood, we were able to first reach you only because another company graciously permitted us access to its customer list. If, when we make our list available, you do not want to receive those offers and/or information, please let us at American Gunsmith Opt-Out Program, Norwalk, CT 06854-1631. Please be sure to ining label. or if the book or magazine is not valuable, cut the page out and place it in the appropriate notebook.

Parts catalogs are another good source of information (particularly those from Gun Parts Corporation and Jack First). There are many other outfits that sell parts that don’t publish a catalog. They might just run an ad in a magazine like Shotgun News or Gun List. I cut out these ads and paste them in my parts notebook. This is more efficient than keeping a stack of old magazines and then having to sit down and look through all of them to find a particular ad.

You can set them up alphabetically or by the gun brand or type. Finally, make sure you keep your issues of American Gunsmith. (The AGA sells binders for them.) There’s an index in each December issue that lists all that year’s articles. You can make a copy of the index and put it in the front (or on the cover) of your binder for that year. And once you build your library, don’t forget to use it!

If you forget things as easily as I do, a few minutes spent looking something up and refreshing your memory can often save hours of frustration at the bench. It’s time well spent. I