Screwdrivers

[Mike from OK]

Hello all,

First post. Been here for a while reading, following discussions, learning, and just plain admiring some of the beautiful rifles on this site.

A little about me... I'm in my 40's, live in NE Oklahoma, married with grown kids. I am a journeyman electrician. I enjoy many outdoor pursuits... Fur trapping and shooting being my 2 favorite. My favorite shootin irons are my flintlocks.

My current collection is made of production firearms. Nothing custom or semi-custom yet. But I have been studying and saving up for one. (let's be realistic, more than one)

My query is this: screwdrivers. Over the years in the electrical trade I have come to own many screwdrivers. Most are taper ground tips. A few hollow ground. Of course hollow ground is preferred because they are far less likely to cam out of screw slots and damage the screw/gun.

I don't necessarily need prime Swedish steel with rosewood handles. A plastic handle with interchangeable bits would be fine if it's comfortable to use and is made of quality materials.

Any recommendations are appreciated.

Mike

[WadePatton]

There are some lovely and comprehensive kits made just for gunsmiths sold at regular gunsmithing supply houses.  I had a set or two from Midway, but they've been scattered over the years.

And when one of those doesn't fit, mod the screw or mod the driver.   I'm a BIG FAN of quarter-dollar sized slotting on any major screw for our guns-namely cock and lock pins.  As a gun-maker, one can design his screw slots to fit his screw driving equipment. 

I'm sure the guys with in-tact sets of more recent supply will chime in.  Welcome to the forum.

[Joe S.]

Welcome,I bought a set of grace screwdrivers,they where not that expensive and work,wood handles(not rosewood for sure)If I was going to do this for a living I would buy a better set though.While I think you can pinch penny here don't on chisels ect.if you plan on building one.Probably should add I was never a fan of those plastic handles,with interchangeable tips for gun screws.This probably has to do more with the cheap set but I found them to fit lose.On the job site it doesn't matter all that much,that's where they ended up in the tool bag.

[FDR]

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/439523/wheeler-engineering-89-piece-professional-plus-gunsmithing-screwdriver-set?cm_mmc=pf_ci_bing-_-Gunsmithing+-+Tools%2C+Jigs+%26+Fixtures-_-Wheeler+Engineering-_-439523

These will do about anything you want. I have this set in my shop.

Fred

[Jim Kibler]

I have a set of good gunsmith screwdrivers, but don't use them too often.  I prefer to just take cheap screwdrivers and grind / file them to fit the screws I commonly use.  I might add, that when I'm building a custom gun, I use a kife file on all of the screw slots.  One screwdriver then pretty much works for the entire gun.  With a tapered slot a similarly tapered screwdriver holds in place well.

[PPatch]

Hello Mike, Welcome to ALR. It is a wonderful resource for those interested in the flintlock rifle. Those fancy "screwdrivers" are known as Turnscrews by the way. If you end up purchasing that type I do recommend round handles over anything oval. Perhaps it is just me but I find those turnscrews handles that are either oval or with flats on them uncomfortable to work with.

Again, welcome - hope your collection grows and do post pix of any that you feel would be interesting to the rest of these characters.

dave

[Mike from OK]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and replies.

I own many firearms, several modern and several "traditional" arms as well. When I am afield with my traditional guns I tend to carry more "period correct" accoutrements. But I'm not a huge stickler about it. I have some things in my pouch that are definitely modern... even an old Tic-Tac container for carrying small parts.

But after a day of shooting I take the guns back to the house and retire to my bench for cleaning, care, maintenance, etc... So I'm looking for a fairly comprehensive screwdriver set for my bench to cover any work done on any of my guns, modern or otherwise.

FDR's suggestion is pretty much what I'm looking for.

But a traditional, hand-forged turnscrew is on the list to carry in my pouches. Because, well, I want one.

Thank you again for the help. I am sure to post more in the future. Looking forward to more responses as they come.

Mike

[Timothy88]

I have a set of Chapman Manufacturing screwdrivers that I really like.

https://chapmanmfg.com/

[David R. Pennington]

I like the more traditional look of wood handles so I buy them cheap at flea markets and regrind them to fit various gun screws as needed.

[elk killer]

Mike, I'm in Copan just north of Bartlesville

[Mike from OK]

Mike, I'm in Copan just north of Bartlesville

Cool! You aren't far from me at all. I'm in SW Ottawa county.

Mike

[elk killer]

I sent you a PM

[Rich]

Bought a set of Grace screwdrivers and am satisfied with the set.

[ScottH]

I have that Wheeler set posted in the link above. I like it.

[davec2]

I've bought cheaper....but these are the best I've owned.  I used to grind them like Jim K, but I eventually used up all the screwdrivers I had for specific uses.  I do a lot of work with modern firearms as well and this set has had everything I need for any situation.

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/screwdrivers-sets/magna-tip-sets/magna-tip-super-sets--prod417.aspx

Part #    080-110-084WB

[n stephenson]

I have a set of good gunsmith screwdrivers, but don't use them too often.  I prefer to just take cheap screwdrivers and grind / file them to fit the screws I commonly use.  I might add, that when I'm building a custom gun, I use a kife file on all of the screw slots.  One screwdriver then pretty much works for the entire gun.  With a tapered slot a similarly tapered screwdriver holds in place well.

DITTO!  Jim, could not have said any more exactly what I was thinking , when reading this. The knife file  treatment ,and my old screwdriver matches it. I use two different sizes mostly . Nothing fancy , just well fitting. Nate

[Marcruger]

I use the Wheeler large gunsmithing set. I got it on sale at Brownells or Midway for around $75.00. Not historically correct though. ;-) God bless, Marc

[scottmc]

I second Timothy 88's recommendation with Chapman.  You can get the $39 or $33 set that won't break the bank and you'll have just about every size you will ever need.  Best investment I ever made with screwdrivers for guns.  And is easy to throw in your shooting box if you want to take it to the range for whatever reason.  Also, U.S. made which means a lot to me.

[Keb]

I have a bunch of old wood handled blades that look to be linoleum knives. I grind them down in length and width to fit those really skinny little slots a lot of purchased screws come with. I also have a couple small enough for internal lock screws ala Chambers.

[SingleMalt]

I second the Grace set. Comfortable on the hand and tough steel. After shaping the head and slot, I recommend case hardening to help it retain its shape and avoid  ruining the slot.

[EC121]

I bought the wooden handled set from Track of the Wolf and ground them if they didn't fit.  I also have had good luck with the cheap,plastic handled, hollow ground 4-in1's from the hardware store.  They are cheap and can be filed to fit.  AND you get the Philips bits as a bonus.    Also the Chapman bits will fit the handle.

[Bob Roller]

I bought the wooden handled set from Track of the Wolf and ground them if they didn't fit.  I also have had good luck with the cheap,plastic handled, hollow ground 4-in1's from the hardware store.  They are cheap and can be filed to fit.  AND you get the Philips bits as a bonus.    Also the Chapman bits will fit the handle.

Like Jim Kibler, I am an advocate of narrow "V" slotted screws and I have
a set of gunsmith screw drivers but use a refiled common screw driver for
all my lock and trigger screws.Call them screw drivers,shraubenziers or turn screws,
they all are for one purpose. I got a call from a man who said none of his screw
drivers would work with my screws and I told him to file one to fit and he thought
I was being a smart guy and he had never heard of filing a screw driver.
Dunno if he got the lock apart or not.

Bob Roller

[Mike from OK]

Thank you for all the suggestions. Looks like I'm going to be doing some filing/grinding on some of my older screwdrivers to fill the bill until I order a set.

Mike

[DutchGramps]

When living in Rwanda, I found a small shop in the bush, where they made hand tools of remarkable quality. They had no electricity, all was done by hand, and the steel parts were made of springs from old trucks. I had a set of six screwdrivers made, and they served me well for over 20 years...
Unfortunately, all the men  (and two women...) were murdered during the genocide.

https://ibb.co/dZ2Zwv
https://ibb.co/fbXZwv

[P.W.Berkuta]

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/439523/wheeler-engineering-89-piece-professional-plus-gunsmithing-screwdriver-set?cm_mmc=pf_ci_bing-_-Gunsmithing+-+Tools%2C+Jigs+%26+Fixtures-_-Wheeler+Engineering-_-439523

These will do about anything you want. I have this set in my shop.

Fred

I also have this set and find it to be excellent and of high quality - it's worth the money - I use it on all types of modern and muzzle loading guns.