GUNSMITHING

THE INSIDE SCOOP ON PISTOLSMITHING TECHNIQUES
Tank's Modular...

Anyone who’s ever loaded moon clips by hand knows firsthand how true those words are. Moon clips allow us to shoot rimless cartridges in revolvers by...
Read Full Article
Home-Made Mortars

The Internet revolutionized the way people in developed countries live their lives. Where previously clever jokes, eccentric fetishes, and quirky hobbies...
Read Full Article
When You’re Hot

Ever wondered how gunmakers and gunsmiths get that beautiful, mottled coloring you’ve seen on shotgun receivers and gun parts? Want to learn the ins and...
Read Full Article
Home Build A...

How about we build a semi-auto, old school, dual aperture flip sight, pencil barrel, carry handle, Vietnam issue M16A1 look-alike that’s discretely...
Read Full Article
Basic Gunsmithing:

Maybe you’ve bought a nice used gun and are trying hard to ignore the elephant in the room — a squished and otherwise bunged-up screw head. When I was...
Read Full Article
Selecting...

For a long time in gun manufacturing and ’smithing it was “blue.” Today there are more colors and finishes than in the rainbow. Spray finishes have...
Read Full Article
Real Avid 4-In-1...

The 4-in-1 Tool for Glock from Real Avid sets the new standard for multi-tools for guns. This compact tool holds four essential tools for any Glock owner....
Read Full Article
Micro Welding

Work on enough guns and eventually it will happen, a missed cut, a cutter crashes into a work piece or a client brings in an obsolete gun with a broken...
Read Full Article
Behind the...

I’ve written about my young friend, Dusty here, who has gotten his custom gunsmithing business off the ground and is doing well. He has a back-log of...
Read Full Article
Lessons Learned

It was originally suggested this column would address the sometimes contentious and often frustrating relationship between the gunsmith and his customers....
Read Full Article
Throat-Choke Is...

I love Ruger revolvers, especially those chambered in .45 Colt. Built tough and able to withstand pressures most other guns can’t, doesn’t mean...
Read Full Article
Volquartsen's...

The Volquartsens are, as a company and as people — sterling. Scott Volquartsen is young enough to have plenty of energy, but seasoned enough to read the...
Read Full Article
Yes... Even You...

Stippling is essentially the process of melting a polymer surface and reshaping the texture into what you desire in look and feel. While the term...
Read Full Article
Adjusting Fixed...

We recently heard from a gentleman who was having trouble regulating the sights on his revolver. In short, things did not go well, and he was looking for...
Read Full Article
Trigger Time

How a pistol fits the hand is just as important as a rifle or shotgun stock fits the shoulder. Trigger length and grip fit are the same for pistol shooters.
Read Full Article
Behind the...

During my decades of “hobby gunsmithing” — as I like to call it — I’ve lost count of the number of broken firing pins I’ve fixed, replaced,...
Read Full Article
Cased & Coddled

Enthusiasts, shooters, and collectors always seem to be striving to improve the quality and scope of our handgun collections. There are lots of...
Read Full Article
Tyler Gun Works...

An old barn sits in the northern panhandle of Texas, near the small town of Friona, the cheeseburger capital of the Lone Star state. Today, 18-wheelers and...
Read Full Article
Innovation...

As devotees of the 1911, we live in a really good time. We’re now reaping the benefits of many years of innovation and craftsmanship normally reserved for...
Read Full Article
Getting Your Gun...

One of the most important tools in anyone’s shop isn’t a machine, vise or file. It is however, one of the most versatile tools at our disposal,...
Read Full Article
Passion For The...

Where are tomorrow’s gunsmiths coming from? It’s a common question, and one with a lot of different answers. There’s the gunsmithing schools, informal...
Read Full Article
Those Pesky...

Advanced “hobby” gunsmiths frequently ask for tips on setups and machine work, and the most common questions are usually related to cutting slides for...
Read Full Article
The 9mm 1911

It’s been easy for me to look at some trends in the world of handguns and decide which were just flashes in the pan, and which were going to last.
Read Full Article
Polishing And Prep

Recently, we listed sources for refinishing your firearms projects. Bluing, plating, and other finish providers were listed, and their services described.
Read Full Article
A Safety Solution

Some of the best ideas for discussion come from you guys. Recently, we received a good question about 1911 safeties: “Why does the 1911’s safety lock...
Read Full Article
Silk Pursing A...

There are lots of what I call “targeted consumer guns” in today’s market. These are firearms and related items targeted to specific groups of shooters.
Read Full Article
Black Magic

We gun-guys are very fortunate these days to have many choices for metal finishing. We have bluing, which can be broken down into hot caustic blue, charcoal...
Read Full Article