Generally the only power tools I use is the drill press for lock & tang bolts and the thimble and lug pin holes, and the band saw for removing excess wood from the blank. All shaping and inletting is done with hand tools. If was compelled to do it faster or more economically, I might consider a router for the barrel channel. But I find using chisels and gouges to impart my will on a piece of wood to be one of the finer pleasures in life.
I like a spokeshave for shaping the fore end of the stock, much like in the Mark Silver video. However, even though it only removes a paper thin sliver with each pass, it is easy to get carried away and remove too much wood.
