favorite gun building tool

[Birddog6]

Norman Coot Knife Grinder. (72") Actually it is a 2" x 72" belt sander, but sold as a knife grinder.
That & a band saw, as I use Both almost every day.

[JTR]

My magna-visor!

[hudson]

Favorite tool Milling machine, most used tool 1 X 42 belt sander.

[WKevinD]

Spokeshave, rasp, scraper, in that order


Kevin

[Habu]

I'm with Whetrock: my pencils/sanding pad/kneadable eraser.  I re-draw every detail multiple times, start over, do it again. . .  and would hate to do that without a good sharp pencil.  Next would be my whetstone, because without it I'd never have tools with decent edges.

I've built guns and rifles without a decent vise (I used a hand screw C-clamped to my dorm-room desk to do a bench copy of a trade gun), with only a mill file and a 3-square files instead of the 40+ I have now, and with only a few chisels and gouges.  But I always start (and usually end) every project with my pencils and whetstone. 

[Monty59]

I don't build weapons, but I do repair sometimes antique ones, and my custom-built rifles sometimes need some work. My favorite tool is this screwdriver. Its short length makes it easy to control in your hand. It's easy to change between four different sizes, and it's specially shaped so it doesn't pop out of the screw so easily.

Monty

[P.Bigham]

Most used is my pattern makers vise.

[Kevin Houlihan]

My OptiVISORs.  I have them in 2 different strengths.

[oldtravler61]

  My shop table and light. Without them my work would look a lot worse..

[Berksrifle]

My first aid kit!

Ken

[mountainman]

I enjoy my egg beater drills, I use as much as I can, and whenever I can. There are some advantages over a battery drill believe or not. I can drill steel, brass, and wood of course.

[chuck-ia]

yes, I use mine a lot too. chuck

[thecapgunkid]

My heretical electric chisel.  You can tell whether or not it is right for the job when you plan the task at hand and I am too arthritic to whack away with a hammer.

[t.caster]

My walk around gun bench with two pivoting vices mounted on it. Plenty of lighting for these old eyes, goes without saying. And tons of other tools!

[Chris in SE PA]

I'm newto this hobby and maybe it's about to show:

Shinto rasp

[whetrock]

I'm newto this hobby and maybe it's about to show:

Shinto rasp

I've seen people bragging on those before. Haven't tried one myself yet.

[oldtravler61]

  I've one of the Shinto rasps works like a charm...!  Great for stock shape or taking off wood in a hurry..  They come with a fine cut and a rough cut in one tool.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

My pattern makers vice as well. I dont know how I ever built without it.
And my magnifiers are becoming increasingly important.  I can barely see what I am typing right now.

Cory Joe

[Frozen Run]

Those shinto rasps are pretty outstanding for where they sit as an intermediate tool between your very aggressive rasps and your finer finishing tools. I wrap a knob of duck tape over the tip and you can really go to town with them. Soft wood, hard wood, horn, they even advertise as good for non-ferrous metal though I've never tried that. Woodcraft often has them on sale for $20 and I just automatically pick one up and add it to the pile every time.

At $20 it's a no brainer, even if it doesn't work out for you for gun building, it's nice to have as a loaner or to fix a cabinet or build a shelf, etc...even at full price I would buy one without hesitation.

[Curtis]

My brain!!!!   

Closely followed by a good wooden body spokesave!






Curtis

[flatsguide]

A Kunz adjustable mouth spokeshave.