Metal Finishing: Polishing with Abrasive Stones
While clothand paper-backed abrasives are most commonly used in finishing metal prior to bluing or color case hardening, abrasive stones offer some distinct advantages.
Gunsmith Magazine
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Full web articles from the American Gunsmith archive, organized for search and connected back to their original issue pages.
Working the Winchester Model 1897 Slide-Action Shotgun
More than 100 years after its introduction, the Model 1897 dominates today on the cowboy-action courses as it once did in the fields and trenches.
Reader Forum
Rust-Removal Caution Having just finished the February 09 issue, I want to bring to your attention a caution about the article on electrolytic rust removal’namely a phenomenon called “hydrogen embrittlement” that can occur in heat-treated parts when immersed in any kind of…
Semi-Automatic Rifle Ban Would Reduce Jobs, Not Crime
According to our new Attorney General, Eric Holder, the Obama Administration will soon attempt to reinstate aban on semi-automatic rifles. The rationale for such aban is that semi-autos are supposedly being purchased in this country and then smuggled across the border to…
Disassembly and Reassembly of the Charter Undercover Revolver
All the Charter Arms revolvers take down and go back together in the same manner. You will, however, need a special factory tool for reassembly.
Thoughts on Building A Tactical/Target Rifle
With some attention to detail and a few readily available aftermarket parts, the Mauser action can produce an accurate and reliable targettype rifle.
Shorten a Cap-and-Ball Gun For Bigger Profits
More often than not, modifying a customer’s old gun is more profitable than selling him a new one.
Using a Stock-Drilling Jig For Pillar Bedding
Pillar bedding is a proven means of improving rifle accuracy, but it must be performed with precision to be effective. Here’s how to simplify the job and eliminate costly mistakes.
Working the Winchester Model 1894 Lever-Action Rifle
With more than 7 million produced over a production run that spanned roughly 110 years, the Model 1894 is the most popular high-powered sporting rifle ever produced.
Reader Forum
Enfield Barrel Removal I have a World War II-vintage Enfield rifle and can’t seem to remove the barrel from the receiver. I heard that sometimes iodine was used on the threads to lock them in place. Any suggestions for removing the barrel?…
Firearm Sales Defy Economic Downturn
I’m sure it’s news to no one that the current economic outlook is weak, if not bleak. And all the forecasts I’ve seen don’t give much hope of a recovery to begin before this time next year. But despite the weak economy…
Disassembly and Reassembly Of the Sig Sauer P250 Pistol
The buyer has a choice of three calibers and gripframe sizes, but you can service them all in the same manner.
Inletting a Machined Stock
Here’s how to finish the inletting and bed the metal on a machine-carved stock that’s sold as ’95- percent inletted.
Modifying the Mini-14/30 Bolt To Fire Imported Ammunition
Early production runs of the Ruger Mini-14 and Mini-30 would not fire imported ammunition. Here’s the reason why, and what to do to fix the problem.
Making a Crossover Bolt For the 98 Mauser
A favorite of hunters and custom-rifle builders, the 98 Mauser will be much more friendly to the left-handed shooter with this simple modification.
Working the Winchester Model 1892 Lever-Action Rifles
With over one million originals manufactured along with numerous modern replicas, the Winchester Model 1892 is one of the most popular lever-actions ever produced.
Reader Forum
Remington 1858 Conversion I have a Navy Arms 1858 Remington Copy, .44-caliber cap-and-ball revolver that I would like to convert to the .45 Colt cartridge, as the bore diameter is .451 inch. However, I don’t know who to contact to order the…
SHOT Show Signals Positive Start for 2009
As this issue heads to the printer, technical editor Chick Blood and I have just returned from another amazing SHOT Show’t his one in the sprawling 715,000-square-foot Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Anyone with any doubt about the health of…
Dissecting the Sig Sauer Mosquito .22 Pistol
This little semi-auto forces you to know where you are, where you’re going, where you’ve been, and how to get back to where you started. And that’s only if you can get beyond the starting point.
Rebuilding a Firing-Pin Tip
Finding replacement parts for rare or obsolete firearms can be a frustrating endeavor. Sometimes machining a new part or repairing the original part are the only options.
Slow-Rust Bluing: Science or Alchemy?
Actually, it’s science. But your customers will think you worked some kind of magic when they see the transformation this process can make in an old firearm.
Making a Custom Rear Sight For the “Slugger” Shotgun
A fully adjustable rear sight on a slug shotgun certainly beats having to aim down the bare rib of the barrel. But a custom sight might require some ingenuity when fitting on a ventilated-rib shotgun.
Working the Winchester Model 1886 Rifles
This big lever-action, the second Browning design manufactured by Winchester, is still popular today, both as a shooter and as a collector’s piece.
Reader Forum
Savage 340 Barrels I own a Savage 340E in .222 Remington. I don’t know a lot of history about this gun or the 340 in general. I bought it about 22 years ago from a Tennessee groundhogger. I’ve been shooting it for…