BUY THE BOOK continued

[LynnC]

Hi Wade

Sorry you locked your topic.....

I know all about being broke, raising kids, jobs that move to china, starting my own business and building guns from scratch, learning the hard way bout all of it.  Built most of my early pre gunmaking book stuff from junked antique parts and scrap metal.  Anything I could scrounge.  Made locks from scratch looking at pictures in books or converted side locks from hammer doubles to percussion.  Buying locks and barrels was out of the question for just a hobby.  The basic books opened a whole new world to me.  Like you, I borrowed them thru inter library loan.  Later when I could free up a little cash (sold some stuff) I bought..............Best (hard earned) money anybody ever spent.  To be honest I only bought/traded for second hand parts to build with till I'd got a basic book.  Real parts were too expensive for me to learn on  

Be glad to answer any question from anybody.  I'm a general hobby builder but I still answer basic questions I feel well qualified to if some other good soul doesn't beat me to it.  Many here are far more skilled than I so I don't reply on advanced carving and engraving, just soak up the info myself   .  After all, I"m still learning too and got a long way to go.

I wish you and your business venture success and better times ahead.................Lynn

[Mike Brooks]

I learned how to build guns before Algore invented the internet.....imagine that. I had one book and a brain to figure it out and that was it.   I have always gotten a kick out of the fact that information is DEMANDED on the internet, like it is owed to you.

[TPH]

Right you are Mike. And another thing, nobody ever got rich writing a book.... or answering questions on the internet.  Something to keep in mind; without your own research and hands on work, you will never be successful. I think everyone can agree with that. Read the books and look at the originals - hands on when possible.

[Dphariss]

When I started building guns my only reference was 1960s Muzzle Blasts.

It never ceases to amaze me that people want answers to questions that they could answer themselves with a little work or experimentation.
Its one thing to have a gun builder friend who you can talk to or be a member of a guild or group of gun builders and ask questions. Its quite another to expect perfect strangers to be at your beck and call.

Dan

[LynnC]

I restarted the topic with the Hope and intent to encourage those without at least one gunbuilding book to find some way to get hold of one.   Library, second hand, borrowed, sell stuff and buy.  I do remember when all available funds went to payments, rent, lights and the dinner table.   

I Do sympathize.........That said,  anybody buying locks, stocks and barrels ought to have a guide    Especially if one is attempting some specialized type of arm.

Then this forum can add wisdom and confidence as the build progress.  From the simple to the complex, its all here............Lynn

[LynnC]

Mike - Hope you don't mind.   I printed out a copy of your Carolina gun build for reference on my current fowler build.  Now there is a good basic gunbuilding tutorial at no charge on the web.

www.fowlingguns.com if I remember right.

Thanks Mike - I appreciate your efforts

[b bogart]

I'll second Mike's tutorial,  I've got most of the books, except Alexanders (not paying that kind of $$$$)
but the tutorial gives pictures of details and hints on tools tto use that I may overlook in the books.
Check out his tutorial Wade! You'll like it

[Dphariss]

I restarted the topic with the Hope and intent to encourage those without at least one gunbuilding book to find some way to get hold of one.   Library, second hand, borrowed, sell stuff and buy.  I do remember when all available funds went to payments, rent, lights and the dinner table.   

I Do sympathize.........That said,  anybody buying locks, stocks and barrels ought to have a guide    Especially if one is attempting some specialized type of arm.

Then this forum can add wisdom and confidence as the build progress.  From the simple to the complex, its all here............Lynn

Inter-library loan is an option that works.

Dan

[keweenaw]

I was just going to give the same comment the Dan made.  Almost all of us pay some tiny amount of taxes to support public or county libraries.  Those libraries can get you almost any book you can think of by inter library loan, cheaper than your paying the postage two ways to borrow one from a private individual.  This is a great way to see if the book will be helpful and if you want to invest in buying your own copy. 

Tom

[rich pierce]

I have worn the covers off of several books.  Kindig's Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in the Golden Age, Rifles of Colonial America Volume 1 and 2, and the Buchele/Shumway book on building rifles are the most worn.  I got all those in the 1970's (Buchele and Kindig) and 1980's (RCA) and not a month goes by that I don't consult Kindig or RCA.  Now the new Grinslade Colonial Fowlers is taking a beating.

I've been poor and when I was, I did without luxuries and hobbies or found a work-around.  I think we are discussing a work-around here for folks who decide they cannot afford the books, but have decided they can buy parts to build a gun.  Parts for a gun will run between $450 and $850 depending on what you are building and how much work you get done (precarves, etc) versus parts you make and work you do.  If you spend $300 on books you'll have a better investment that will last through building dozens or hundreds of guns.  The Grinslade book can be had for $38.00.  I'd suggest, don't ask me about fowling pieces till you buy it and study it.  When I say that, I'm telling you that book has hundreds of times the information I could give you, and you could have it at hand every moment.

In general folks are very helpful on this forum, and suggesting someone do their homework or invest a little something before taking other folks time for granted isn't out of line to me.

Things you will never find on a forum or online:  the data you get in RCA 1 and RCA 2.  You will never find a place with a couple hundred original rifles, organized into schools, photo'd from different angles, with a historical perspecitve, and measurements useful for the builder.  There is a lot in our archives here of antique rifles, but not the measurements etc nor the access to many "keystone" rifles.

[Tom Cooper]

This is an excellent topic and one that is long overdue.

In 2006 I was fortunate enough to have the assistance of a Master with my first build, I apprenticed myself to him on my first assembly, I then found the "net" and the likes of Jerry H. and many many talented others that had no qualms sharing the knowledge that they possesed. I attended some gunmakers fairs as well. I now have an extensive library of related material, it is indespensable.

I have had the oppurtunity to handle and photograph several originals, all of which would not have been possible without my (humble) apprenticeship

It is true that the atmosphere has changed on the board since it changed over, but the information is there for all to find if you'll just invest the time to search for it.

It does get old looking at the board and finding the same questions posted over and over again and again, I come here to explore the upper end of the building spectrum, it takes alot of filtering to find it.

The best Contemporary builders of our time are frequenting this forum and share information that took years for them to gain, I feel that the proper respect is due these individuals.

The fact that this forum even exists is a privilege to those of us that are studying this art.

Ok I'm done

[Kermit]

Just a little request from one of the relative newbies here. It often helps with a little advice on what search term to use. I've seen that done here, and it really helps. I was once told, "Track has them." I went there and used what I thought was the correct term, kept modifying, backing up, running at it again, and FINALLY stumbled on the item I'd been seeking. Just a nudge in the right direction can help shorten a frustrating search when a newbie is not zeroed quite right. Just sayin'...

[WadePatton]

Howdy yall.

No one owes anyone anything.  I get that.  I give all the time.  I know where all the books sit on a shelf, but they've not been offered and I don't want to push my limits with the Master.  I do my best to respect his time and other projects.

This is a discussion forum and one section is Gun Building and another is Tutorials and the halls are populated by many great builders.  So I'd think posing questions here would be a natural process of the site.  

Inter-library eh?  I may look into that.  

Many things change, when for whatever reasons, you look at things from a different perspective/life situation.  I start logging next week.  But this ain't about me.

And yes, I've looked at Mike's tutorial a time or two, also been through all of 'em here.  I'm an info ho.

Thanks to all for each tutorial-especially those with photographic support.

Cheers