New Gunsmith Items

After years of being the new products manager with the biggest supplier of gunsmithing tools in the world, looking for new products has become second nature to me. Now that I’m retired, I no longer call manufacturers looking for their new offerings or haunt SHOT Show booths or the armorer’s trailers at Camp Perry looking for tools to put in the catalog. But old habits die hard and since I still shoot and work on guns, I remain on the lookout for tools that make my life easier.

I’ve recently come across three items I really like and think you will find useful. Wyoming Sight Drifter On a recent trip to Wyoming in search of an elusive Boone and Crockett record jackalope, a friend introduced me to a little ingenious tool called the Wyoming Sight Drifter.

This is one of those tools I looked at and thought, "Why didn’t I think of that?" If you have ever been on the range sighting in an iron sighted rifle and needed to drift either the front or rear sight in its dovetail to adjust the point of impact, this little tool will transform your method of adjustment.

Previously, I took a brass punch and a light hammer to tap the sight—all while struggling to hold the barrel, position the punch, and work the hammer, a process that re- Once I tried it I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it myself. Easy to use, elegant, and effective. I no longer need to carry a hammer and brass punch to the range. quires four hands to do correctly. No more! With the Wyoming Sight Drifter there is no need for other tools.

The Drifter consists of two steel rods, one with a brass tip attached, connected by a moderately heavy spring. To move the sight, the brass tip is placed on the base of the sight and the rear steel rod is pulled back against spring pressure. Releasing the rear rod lets it fly forward, hitting the back of the front rod and transferring its energy through the rod and into the sight. The strength of the hit is controlled by how far you pull the rod back and can range from a light tap to a substantial blow.

I was sold on the tool the first time I used it. It is made in the USA and currently available directly from the manufacturer, Steve Anderson, who can be reached at He is a pleasure to talk to and is located at Cheyenne, WY 82007. The cost of the Wyoming Sight Drifter is $32 plus $5 shipping. It is also currently listed on the Buffalo Arms Web Site, Buffalo Arms. com/wyoming-sight-drifter.

The Hy Skore Degreezer I received a pre-production sample of the new Hy Skore Degreezer from a fellow writer that has recently retired. This is a polypropylene copy of the traditional degreasing tanks you will find in auto repair shops and machine shops across the country with a couple of differences. First, the Degreezer is bench sized for the gunsmith or hobbyist. At approximately 11.25" long, 6.25" wide, and 4" high it is big enough for most gun parts and small enough to fit under your bench when not in use.

There is a small parts basket included and it has an angled surface to put the parts on to drain. Made of polypropylene, it is resistant to nearly every cleaner you might use, including acetone and mineral spirits. I normally use odorless mineral spirits to keep peace in the family because my shop is in the basement and my wife has a keen sense of smell. The top is pulled back against the spring and released. Anything from a light tap to a substantial whack can be delivered based on how far you stretch the spring.

Atop keeps debris out between uses, making this a handy item to have around your shop. Whether you just need to clean up a couple of greasy parts or need to soak years of old Cosmoline and dirt from a military relic of the 19th century, this little degreaser is a handy addition to your shop. It comes with the tank, parts basket, nylon brush, and cover that holds the brush and prevents solvent from picking up contaminants between uses.

At a suggested retail price of $24.99 it is an affordable and han- Mini Bench Top Cut-Off Saw is a handy tool for reloaders that are forming brass for old guns from current brass. From left, a .30-06 case, a .30-06 case run through an 8x57mm Mauser die, and are-sized case cut to length on the saw with the extra piece from the neck. This saw works well with wood, plastic, or soft metals like brass. 30-06 case ready to be cut to length for use in the 8x57mm Mauser.

With similar fixtures made for the purpose, I can shorten plastic or paper shotgun cases for use in older shotguns with shorter chambers as well as brass shotgun shells to manufacture ammunition for the British Snider or French Tabatiere. dy addition to any shop. It should be available around the end of July 2017 from Hy Skore (HySkore.com, Keep in mind that what I have is a pre-production sample and the final unit may differ slightly from my photos here. Drill Master Cut-Off Saw The Drill Master 2 in.

Mini Bench Top Cut-Off Saw, item #62136 and available at Harbor Freight (Harbor- Freight.com, is not anew product to the market but a fellow shooter and gunsmith recommended it to me and I have found it extremely useful. If you have regular cutting chores around the shop or reloading bench, this little tool can cut not only your time but will also cut dowels, brass, and most any soft, small-size material. My primary interest with it is shortening brass cases to adapt them for old black powder rifles.

I have tried several methods of shortening currently-available cases to make brass for old guns with disappointing results. Cutting 24 gauge brass shotgun shells to 2" to make .577 Snider rounds, cutting 2 3/4" plastic shotgun shells for use in short 2 9/16" chambers found in old shotguns, or shortening .30-06 cases to make into 8x57mm Mauser cases previously proved problematic. This little saw cuts them clean without crushing the case neck.

I build simple wooden jigs for each application and can produce case after case to exactly the right length that need nothing more than a quick deburring to be ready to load. Cutting dowels to fill in old screw holes or pieces of walnut to replace pieces that have broken off an old stock is fast, easy, and most importantly, square. It comes with an attached vise that is adjustable to make angle cuts. The blade is made of high-speed steel and is limited to softer materials like brass, plastic, and wood.

I found this little beauty on sale at Harbor Freight for $34.99. As far as I’m concerned, it paid for itself the first day. As you might guess, being in the Harbor Freight store it is made in China if that is a consideration for you. I am always looking for new tools and ideas that will make gun work go faster and easier. When I find them I will share them with you. Have fun and be safe! AG