Journal of Historical Armsmaking

[blucher]

Hello,

Can anyone give a brief synopsis of what is in each volume of the journal of historical armsmaking books?

Thanks.

[satwel]

I own two volumes, Vol I, August 1985 and Vol. II, June 1987.
Vol. I is a lengthy article by Gary Brumfield all about flintlock design and lock making; The Production of Flintlocks Used on Colonial American Rifles: Raw Materials, Tools, and Technology. It is a step by step description, with photographs, of the process of forging a complete lock, by hand, from wrought iron. Also shown are some tools that were used, like  tumbler mills, screw plates and taps and a screw grinder. The locks shown in the photos and illustrations all look like large Silers.

Volume II has five articles. The titles are pretty self-explanatory;
Two Virginia Rifles as Documents of Traditions, Shop Tools, Processes and Technology by Wallace Gusler
The Golden Mean Proportion in Baroque and Rococo Firearms Design: an Art-Historical Approach by Barry Bohnet
A Patchbox Release Mechanism by David Wagner
A Barrel Crowning Tool by David Wagner
Making and Using a Scratch-Stock for Forearm Moldings by Russell Swanson

[Rich]

vol 3 is a copy of "The Gunmaker and the Gunstocker" written in german in 1771. In addition to the german language version there is a translation to english. That is followed by an artical by Shumway on the Brandenburg school of gunmaking.
Vol 4 has a description of a gunfactory (in german with english translation), a study of lock timing, includes some pictures of locks, and a discussion of a wheelock mainspring vise.

[Thom]

There is a complete set of five on eBay right now. I didn't know there were five volumes in the set

[BIGMAN]

Here is what it said about Vol V:

Volume V: Volume V, June, 1993

Riflemaking Workmanship: A Rifle by John Sheetz by Wallace Gusler & David Harvey

Charcoal Bluing of Rifle Barrels by James Anderson

Cock Forging: A Study in Technology by Gary Brumfield

Ramrod and Walking Stick Tool by Lynton McKenzie

[Sawatis]

You know folks, that set is a valuable resource...I always wondered why the journal didn't continue??  Given some of the extensive research on topics posted on this board that I've seen in the last couple years...topics like 18th C screw making, Artificer's toolsets, and lots of others...several of y'all would be prime candidates to take up the reins and revitalize such a series ...just a though
John

[Larry Pletcher]

You know folks, that set is a valuable resource...I always wondered why the journal didn't continue??  . . . . .
John

John,
I suspect it was a matter of funding. Gary worked with me when I was finishing up the lock timing article in Vol. IV.  Even then he was always securing finding.  After Vol. V was done, I think funds became tough to find. I think the National was feeling the pinch about this time too.  Gary told me he even considered changing the format, perhaps going to a CD. I don't know if he had potential articles ready or not. I don't think he would have given it up if there was a way to continue.

Regards,
Pletch 

[Mark Elliott]

A lot of what was in JHAT can now be found on this web site.   Perhaps someone could edit some more popular threads together to produce an e-book.   It had crossed my mind, but there has to be some financial reward for that kind of investment in time.   Technically,  ALR.org owns everything that has been posted.    It could give someone a percentage deal to put something together to be sold through the site and then some.    Most of the money would have to go to the person doing the work, the rest would go to running the site.   Just a thought, but I think that some more business work would have to be put into this.  

[Sawatis]

Yeah, Thats what it usually comes to is funding. I think Mark has a good suggestion...be a good way of supporting the site. With all the research and effort that some of the members here have put into studying specific methods and procedures, a indexable reference like an ebook would be ideal...this stuff was all lost before, hate to see that happen again!
John

[JDK]

$228.50 with 2 days left to bid!  I can wait for them to be released on CD.   Enjoy, J.D.

[Mark Elliott]

They are not likely to be reprinted or released on CD as the original camera ready proofs were lost for the earliest volumes.   They can be scanned but scans of digitally printed photos have an artifact that seriously degrades the quality of the image.   Maybe one of these days when there is software that can properly scan them.   

[b bogart]

And the binding isn't that great on them too. I have the first two. Lotsa good info, but it's loose leaf now. $228??? Holy smokes!

[James]

I paid $200 for just Vol V from Gary Brumfield, it is the most difficult to find, the information in these books is invaluable.

[coutios]

  Check the NMLRAs WEB site... They still show Volume 4 available for a couple of bucks if anyone is interested...   Dave

[James]

The complete set on ebay sold for $431.