Gunsmithing Books

The classic texts for the gunsmith were written in an age when today’s plethora of aftermarket options didn’t exist and still serve as a foundation to gun work today. Modern Gunsmithing Introduction To Modern Gunsmithing, written by Harold E. Mac Farland, came along much later than other classics, which were all published around World War Two. The original copyright was 1964 but by 1971 the book was already in its fourth printing.

I’m guessing by the time this book came out most of the earlier classics were hard to find and likely out of print, although Roy Dunlop’s book had developed a life of its own. Since some of the earlier books were most likely not available, Introduction To Modern Gunsmithing recovers some old ground to include initial chapters on methods and tools as well as fabrication of tools and gun parts. There are also nearly twenty pages on the selection and working with different steels.

All of this material had already been covered in the books of others. Military actions were so common and cheap at the time of publication, even in the dollars of day, there are three chapters on reworking surplus guns including topics such as action selection, with over twenty different choices from Mausers to Rolling Blocks, methods of improving actions and fabricating new stocks.

Gunsmiths working on commercial firearms will find chapters on Diagnosing and Elimination of Malfunctions, Shotgun Work, Trigger Work, and Handgun Work of very special interest as these issues are dealt with both by firearm type and specifi c model. Along the way on all of the above subjects, the author discusses such popular firearms as the Remington Model 740, the Winchester Model 94, Colt Model 1911, Savage Model 99, Winchester Model 100 and Winchester Model 70.

Gunsmiths will find information on these guns worth the cost of this book. There are also solid tips on achieving more accuracy with many of the more popular arms. The real lifesaver for many will be basic disassembly instruction for over 100 different firearms! Puzzled on how to deal with obsolete European semi-automatics?

Chapter 14 has info on three different Astro models, four different Bayard models, Browning Pocket Pistols Models 1910 and 1922, three different Czech handguns and seven different Walter models, including the PP, PPK, and P-38. There is also information on most of the High Standard semi-autos, including pre-WWII models. The chapter concludes with details on all of the Winchester lever action rifles produced to the time of publication.

Introduction To Modern Gunsmithing concludes with typical reference information in afi nal chapter found in many books of this type. What will interest anyone comparing bullet performance is a formula for producing your own gelatin blocks. This is the same formula used by the ammunition factories to compare bullet expansion and penetration. Encyclopedia of Firearms F.

R. "Bob" Brownell, founder of Brownells, was the editor of The Encyclopedia of Modern Firearms, which contained the current military and firearm manufacturer manuals of the day. All of the large domestic firearm manufacturers are listed here with detailed information typically far beyond anything shared with the public. In the development of this book, Brownell was assisted by Walter J. Howe, Editor of American Rifleman, as well as Rifleman staffers Julian Hatcher, E. H. Harrison, and M. D. Waite.

Both domestic manufacturers and foreign companies are included, as well as military manuals at the ordinance depot level with completely detailed stripping and disassembly instructions, not merely the simple field stripping instruction given to the soldier in the field. Also included are what the military called "special tools" with illustrations and instruction for items such as front sight staking tools for the Colt Model 1911.

The information Brownell assembled is some of the best information available from the factory on the guns of the day. Since 1959 when The Encyclopedia of Modern Firearms was first printed, times have changed and many of the factories have stopped passing this information along to commercial gunsmiths. As a result, this book is forever in a time warp and isn’t updated. My hard copy version notes the Seventeenth printing took place Octo-

ber 1975. Fortunately, the firearms therein are still around and many of the models were produced in such huge amounts, such as Winchester’s Model 12 and Model 94, it is guaranteed they will be around. The military technical manuals included in this tome include the following separate areas: Shotguns, Springfi eld Rifle, and Colt Semi-Automatic Pistol.

At the time of the first printing as well as several of the additional printings, the M1 Garand was still the current service rifle and not available as surplus, so it did not receive coverage. The included Shotgun manual was published by the military as TM 9-285 and dated September 21, 1942. It covered the following shotguns: Winchester Model 97 and Model 12; Stevens Model 620A, M620, and M-520; Ithaca Model 37; Remington Model M10, M31, M11 and Sportsman; and the Savage M720.

In the case of all of the proceeding, the shotguns discussed were 12 gage, even though most of them were at least commercially available in smaller gages. The illustrations as well as the descriptions are particularly outstanding and likely cost the government far more than might be commercially justifi ably for the factories to produce in service manuals. One estimate of the taxpayer cost was $250,000! The next military manual included is TM- 9-2170, Ordinance Maintenance, U. S.

Rifles, Cal. .30, M1903, M1903A1, M1903A3, and M1903A4. In other words, what everyone in the 20th Century called the Springfi eld Rifle, which was used as the base for the first commercial modification projects, or sporterization. This practice was popular for many decades but has since faded, especially for the Springfi eld. Instead, special nostalgic matches have become popular at Camp Perry championships as well as at local club contests.

The Colt .45 Automatic Pistol is covered by TM 9-1295, Ordinance Maintenance, M1911 and M1911A1, dated 8 September, 1947. As an interesting historical note, the two previous TM’s were both signed by Chief of Staff George C. Marshall. The TM dated 1947 was signed by Chief of Staff Dwight D. Eisenhower. Although some of the techniques used in TM-1295 would not be the most popular techniques today, the information provides accurate information into how the pistol was worked on in the World War Two era.

The fi nal military manual covered here is numbered TM-9-2117, dated 15 July, 1957 covering Winchester and Stevens Riot-Type shotguns. For those interested in military surplus firearms, there is information in this TM on fi ve different arsenal rebuild locations, one ordinance rebuild depot and an armory used for rebuilding work. All weapons rebuilt in the United States were to be stamped with either a two letter or a three letter code for the establishment location.

However, rebuilds by overseas maintenance shops were not to be stamped. Also, if the firearm was rebuilt at another location, the new rebuild identifi cation was to be placed below the previous identifi cation. If the firearm had been previously been rebuilt at the same location, it was not necessary to add a duplicate mark.

Some of the information on commercial firearms can be found in other publications, such as the parts lists and diagrams in the Numrich Gun Parts Corporation catalog published annually, as well as a few instances of factory information as made available from the original manuals before manufacturers stopped providing such information. The best examples of earlier manufacturer-supplied information are the Winchester and Remington factory manuals. They both provide a lot of information but use very separate methods.

The last Remington manual was in a very large three-ring binder with information separated by tabs for the various model numbers. The Winchester information was printed from sketches and drawings by Winchester employee A. A. Arnold. Separate soft cover manuals were provided for the following models: Model 12 Shotgun, Model 50 Shotgun, Model 70 Rifle, Model 77 Rifle, Model 88 Rifle, Model 94 and others.

Those who are not quite satisfi ed with the information supplied by Brownells may find copies of the original Winchester material very useful as the Encyclopedia edited and reduced the original factory material. However, I would suggest either inspection or return privileges as some of the copied material has faded and is not as clear as the factory original material. Other Winchester firearms not included in the special manuals is covered with factory schematics and catalog information.

In addition to providing part, assembly/disassembly, and repair information, the data in The Encyclopedia on specifications for pins, screws and helical springs on the listed firearms will likely justify adding this volume to any gunsmith’s library. Brownells still provides this book today and it can be ordered from the book section of their catalog. Prospective purchasers have a choice of a hardbound copy or loose leaf to be enclosed in a three-ring binder, which is my choice.

As an added bonus, specifi c information can be copied and even enlarged for use at the bench, preserving the condition of the original material. AG