In 1973, I was issued a set of Grace wood handled screwdrivers as part of my initial Tool Box Issue to become an RTE (National Match or NM) Armorer. The unfortunate thing was those screwdrivers rarely if ever fit the Military or Commercial guns we worked on.
So I began hunting through Flea Markets, yard sales and even antique stores to find early 20th century and late 19th century screwdrivers that I would anneal, file to fit and case harden for almost every screw in every gun I worked on. I especially liked to get small 19th century cabinet makers screwdrivers to fit for every screw slot size for working original and reproduction NSSA guns I worked on. This followed what many folks considered a "time honored" gunsmithing tradition, but in reality was nothing more that what gunsmiths had been forced to do for generations and it was a PITA !!!! No doubt it taught Apprentice Gunsmiths to file FLAT and accurately and was great for that, BUT making screwdrivers takes time away from actual gun work. I wound up with dozens of screwdrivers and had to separate them in different tool boxes by the "era" of guns I worked on.
Now the original 18th century gunsmiths did not have to make NEARLY as many "turnscrews" (original name for a screwdriver) for their work. When they made their own screws, it looks like they had from maybe two to four sizes of files to make the slots and then they only needed a very few turnscrews. Of course, if they bought imported locks, they would have made turnscrews to fit the screws in those locks. I have also been informed that some or many of those 18h century screws were "V" shaped and that would have made making turnscrews for them easier. However, the 18th and early 19th century guns I've worked on were primarily British, French and German and most of them had parallel sided slots - so perhaps "V" shaped slots were mainly American?
The screwdriver "problem" became much, MUCH easier after Brownells began selling their Magna Tip Screwdriver kits. I was gifted a "Super Set" by Reid Coffeld of Brownells when he was a student of mine in an NRA Gunsmithing Seminar I taught. I then bought the "Upgrade Kit" to make it the "Master Set."
You rarely ever run into a screw slot size they don't cover, but if you do, it is easy to anneal, file and fit and caseharden a slightly larger size when you do. These sets are shown here:
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/screwdrivers-sets/magna-tip-sets/magna-tip-super-sets-trade--prod417.aspxBefore I went along as the Team Armourer for the U.S. International Muzzleloading Team to the World Championships in Wedgnock, UK in 1996, I decided to buy the "Super Thin" Bit set for those TINY screw slots that Europeans so dearly seemed to love. WOW, was I glad I had as it gave me the screwdrivers I needed to work an original German Jaeger Rifle Lock and an original Nicholas Boutet.circa. 1810 Saw Handled Flintlock Dueling/Target Pistol.
This link shows that set:
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/screwdrivers-sets/magna-tip-bit-sets/magna-tip-thin-bit-set-prod44342.aspxNow, I have never forgotten how expensive it could be (and remains so 40 years later) to buy or make all the tools one needs to work on guns. A "problem" the hobbyist or beginning smith runs into is they often suggest buying the "starter kits" made by Brownells or others. Well, what does THAT give you? A bunch of bits that often don't fit the sizes of screw slots you need!! FORTUNATELY if you order Brownell's Catalog, they sell the different size bits individually by fractional size!!!! THAT way, you can order the EXACT size bits for the lock or locks and screws you have or work on!! At under $3.00 to no more than about $ 5.00 per bit, that saves you a LOT of time buying and making your own screwdrivers! As time goes on and you need different size bits, you can add them to make a set you actually need.
Don't get me wrong, I probably have used every size of bit in the Master Set and Super Thin bit set at least once over the last 30 years, BUT there are many bits in my sets that are 20 to 30 years old I almost never use. If I were starting out today, I probably would only buy the size bits I actually needed and when I needed them.
Gus
P.S. LOVE Tom's idea of putting the screw slot file in a small frame saw. Should have thought of that years ago. Grin.
