Reader Forum

New Index I have been a subscriber to American Gunsmith for about seven years now. I find the magazine is a great way to continue my gunsmithing education. Awhile back I decided to work on learning more about the Internet and websites and set out to learn the basics of how to design, build and run a simple database on a website. I wanted to combine my gunsmithing and website interests so I created a database that indexed all of my back issues of American Gunsmith.

I have been using it for a little while now and wanted to make this available to all members. You can access this index from my website, GunsmithInfo.com. From that main page, click on the "Magazine Index" link to be taken directly to the database. I realize that this site can use a few enhancements and a little graphical polish but the basic data is there and ready for use. If others find this site interesting I will put the time and effort into making improvements.

The index covers every article from every issue that I have been able to find going back to April 1992. The magazine index link that you click on will take you to a list of every article in that issue. This list contains the basic information such as Title, Author, Section, etc. There is a column labeled "Summary." Hovering your mouse on the icon will reveal a pop-up that contains a brief summary of the article. The columns can be sorted by clicking the Label at the top of the column.

The columns can be searched by clicking on the magnifying glass icon and typing in a word or phrase. I work in Information and Technology. Gunsmithing is a hobby I started when I wanted to be able to work on my own collection. I plan on adding more gunsmithing information to the site as it grows. I would love to hear from any readers if they have suggestions on information that I should add. Email me at bob@ gunsmithinfo.com. Also, help support the site by clicking on one of the ad banners.

GunsmithInfo.com This is an outstanding index and a great resource for all American Gunsmithing Association members. Kudos to Mr. Richardson for putting this together and making it available for all of us! Savage 99 I have a Savage 99 in need of repair and am having difficulty locating a manual. Can you recommend a detailed repair manual with directions and particulars to help me? James A.

Billings If the repair is limited to part replacement there are excellent disassembly/assembly instructions in the Official NRA Guide to Firearms Assembly: Rifles and Shotguns. The manual you seek covering detailed repairs and instructions is not readily available outside authorized service centers and factory service personnel. Care to give us specifics of what is in need of repair? We may be able to uncover the cause and guide you to a cure.

Savage Model 6 Do you know where to find a assembly/disassembly for a Savage Model 6D? Or know how to install a cartridge guide spring that was missing? I have The Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly Part III: Rimfire Rifles but it doesn’t show how to install the spring. The Model 6 was introduced in 1938. Yours is one of a series that underwent no significant mechanical changes over the years, with the exception of a switch from tube feed to clip feed.

The unique feature of the rifle was, and is, its versatility. It could be fired as a straight pull, single shot with .22LR, .22 Long and .22 Short or as a semiauto with .22LR. Bob Richardson There’s another assembly source you should check out. Official NRA Guide to Firearms Assembly: Rifles and Shotguns contains a very good schematic. In it the guide spring appears to be configured to fit in the guide ahead of the lifter, which has its own spring.

Recalling the functions of the guide spring and lifter should be helpful. The lifter receives the cartridge from the mag tube and presents it to the guide/guide spring. In turn, the long legs of the guide spring serve to present the cartridge to the barrel breech as the bolt moves forward to chamber it. Llama Especial .380 I have a Llama Especial .380 (a 1911like pistol in miniature) serial number 156XXX and need a barrel link for it.

Numrich has been out of them for months and they have no idea when they’ll find anew supplier. Where else can I look for the part? Can I get specs to make one? Can I use a link from one of the new 1911-style .380’s? When I find/make one and install, what is the real test for proper fit? Portland, OR Peter Krauss After reaching deeper into the parts aftermarket, i.e.

Jack First, try the importer in Wannamassa, NJ To address your questions, no, because neither you or this organization can secure factory blueprints and we’d not recommend casting about for a link from a pistol made by another manufacturer. Dennis Johnson As for fitting up the replacement link, study up on link fit in a full-size M1911A1. The best book for this is The U. S. M1911/M1911A1 Pistols & Commercial M1911 Type Pistols, A Shop Manual by Jerry Kuhnhausen.

The basic objective is to disengage and re-engage the barrel lugs with the slide lugs in a smooth and highly repeatable manner.

Savage 24V Series B I have a Savage 24V Series Bin my shop with barrels that cannot be unbreeched. Someone before me has attempted to unbreech it by prying on the yoke from inside of the receiver that attaches to the locking plunger. I found that the yoke was broken in two pieces when I removed the stock. I have soaked the locked-up plunger with penetrating oil for several days in hopes that would loosen the locking plunger but have had no luck in getting it to loosen at all.

Can you give me any advice as to what I should do? This is anew gun that has never been fired but has been stored for along time. I do not want to do anything that would damage the appearance. The individual doing the prying should be the individual to pay for the damage done. No exceptions, not even if total replacement with anew gun is the result. We fear repair of that damage will require it be performed by factory technicians.

Call Savage, describe the condition and make arrangements to ship the 24V to them for service Frankly, since it was anew gun, never fired and had been stored for along time we suspect vandalism may be involved here. Marlin Model 88 A customer brought in a Marlin Model 88 with some parts another gunsmith had ordered for them and then went out of business without fixing the gun. I am in need of the breakdown procedure for this gun so I can hopefully get it fixed for them.

The Model 88, later to become the 88C (tubular) and 89C (clip) was the first of its kind made by Marlin. It could be fired semi-auto or single shot. There’s no schematic perhaps because the M88 pre-dates their use. There is, however a patent (#2430680) issued to R. L. Jenkinson for a semiauto/single shot action. This could be useful in working with the piece since patents get into great detail on function.

A copy of the patent can be obtained from the Patent and Trademark Office (uspto.gov, google.com/ patents) in Washington, DC. Don Ferguson Towering Arms Union, MS Winchester 1885 Low Wall I have a Winchester 1885 (Miroku) that has problems. It seems that internal parts have broken. It won’t cock and the hammer won’t stay back. Do you have disassembly instructions for it? Have they been published in your magazine? Can you tell me where to get them? Taking it apart without losing parts must be difficult.

Stanley Shaw The September 2010 issue covered the M1885 but the shotgun might not have been manufactured by Miroku. To ascertain that, after reading the article, contact Jim Heverling ([email protected]). Jim serviced Miroku-made guns in the past and should be able to help with any parts you may need. Parker Shotgun I have an older Parker double barrel shotgun in 12 gauge chambered for 2-1/2 inch shotshells, serial number 1342XX. According to the book it was manufactured around 1905 using Vulcan steel.

Is it possible to rebore the chamber to accept modern loads and still have a margin for safety? If so, would you have knowledge of someone capable of making proper modifications to this gun? June Jones Philip R. Burns Kittery, MA If we had the specifications on Vulcan steel we’d like to be able to say "forge ahead!" But we don’t. Not too long ago Remington produced a run of Parker doubles. You can try reaching them in Ilion, NY to see if they can shed more light on the metal.

If it’s judged unsafe or was cut into strips to be forged over a mandrel in making Damascus barrels your best bet is to call Briley Manufacturing and explore the possibility of full length barrel inserts. This would result in a shotgun capable of safety firing modern loads and a reduction in gauge. Of course, the original Parker would no longer be considered an original. AG