Author Topic: Other gun building books?  (Read 2721 times)

Archie Otto

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Other gun building books?
« on: April 04, 2014, 05:53:40 AM »
What do you think of the gun craftsmanship booklet series by Kit Ravenshear? 
And
The modern Kentucky rifle by R.H McCrory?

Do they have information not covered in Grenville or Recreating the American longrifle?

Offline Habu

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Re: Other gun building books?
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2014, 07:42:06 AM »
Over the years, I've found the Ravenshear books more useful.  On the other hand, McCrory's book helped sustain my interest and provided some useful ideas. 

Offline rich pierce

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Re: Other gun building books?
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2014, 05:18:32 PM »
Kit's books are good for anyone wanting to make some parts, customize things, etc.  For the person buying all their parts and assembling guns, a lot of what he has in his books is not needed.  Making springs for example.  Kit was making guns when parts were not available.  He was a bit of a shade tree mechanic.

Much has changed since the 1970's and early 1980s when Kit and Chuck Dixon and Wm. Buchele wrote their books.  Precarves and kits have advanced and many builders don't need all the info on how to make thimbles, nosecaps, sights, triggers, patchboxes, inlet a barrel, make a ramrod groove, drill the hole, etc.  Now builders of kits need to know how to deal with problems specific to kit building (inlet the lock first then move the barrel as needed, because the lock can't be moved).  So what was in the old books has to be sifted and maybe modified if you're not building from a blank.
Andover, Vermont

Offline gunmaker

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Re: Other gun building books?
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2014, 07:55:44 PM »
In words of Bob Roller  "can't have to many tools, guns or ammo"  add books to that......Tom

Offline Pete G.

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Re: Other gun building books?
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2014, 08:55:33 PM »
"The Modern Kentucky Rifle" is not so modern anymore. It was written about 50 years ago and we have learned a lot about these things since then. It was published when the Dixie Gun Works Kentucky was considered top of the line. I have to book, but I do not think it was money well spent in this day and time. The basics are still the same, but they are covered in all the other books also.

Online Jim Kibler

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Re: Other gun building books?
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2014, 09:06:40 PM »
There's no qualifications required to write a book on this subject.  I would suggest following what is written by those who are highly respected and competent.  I see some of the instructions in various books and scratch my head.  Don't forget Gunsmithing Tips and Techniques.  Many of John Bivins articles from Rifle magazine are included there.