favorite gun building tool

[chuck-ia]

Just curious what tool is your favorite for building from a blank (or precarve) , not sure I could do without the 49 nicholson rasp. chuck

[rich pierce]

Stanley spokeshave.

[Steeltrap]

Stanley Flat File Surform Plane with 10 In. Blade

[Bob Roller]

Are the Stanley Surform tools still being made? I have one given to me by a Stanley representative in 1956 and used it on several builds back in "the day".
Bob Roller

[smylee grouch]

Screw driver 

[Scota4570]

Milling machine and bandsaw.

[mountainman]

Stanley spokeshave.

Rich do you have a picture of it?

[Wingshot]

A scary sharp 1/4” chisel.

[Bob Gerard]

A bottle opener




🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
(I kill myself sometimes)

[whetrock]

Can a #2 pencil and a big fat eraser count as tools?

If not, then I'll pick my shop anvil. 120 lb.

[A.Merrill]

Every size half round file made.   Al

[elk killer]

mine was my whole shop until it burned recently....

[whetrock]

mine was my whole shop until it burned recently....

Oh! Sorry to hear that.

[FALout]

I’ve got two, spokeshave and scraper.  To me, using these tools to do the shaping is the enjoyable part of building.

[alacran]

Jerry Fischer scraper.

[Tim Crosby]

 This little Flexcut spoke shave is a great tool for stocks and raw horn. Stays sharp and easy to sharpen when needed, just a strop usually does it. I find its thickness and shape make it easier to work with that a long one.

   Tim C.

[Spalding]

Set of Dick Millers small scrapers.

Bob

[Frozen Run]

Pfeil 1/4" beveled edge chisel.

[tallbear]

This simple 1/16" pin punch is probably my favorite tool on my bench.It's used multiple times on every gun I make and throughout the whole process.It was made and gifted to me by the late Don Getz.I holds the memories of visiting the Barrel Shop spending hours talking guns and gunbuilding,dinners with him and Gayle at "Church" and traveling with him to shows.Don was a tireless promoter of gunbuilders( new builders in particular) and many of us today would'nt be where we are without his friendship.

Mitch

[snrub47]

rich pierce, need more spoke shave details? Model#, picture??  THANKS

[mikeyfirelock]

Bandsaw,  but most of all the  set of carving chisels my dad got me for Christmas in 1972,  when I was building my first muzzle loader in my dorm room at Purdue.
( most everyone there was a farm boy, and they were all checking my progress daily.   I hope some of them retained some interest and looked into muzzleloading in the years after. If any of you were in Cary Quad C or D unit in 1972 . I’m still building rifles……..I’m just better at it now ( somewhat.) Mike Mullins…..

PS.   If any here are around NW Indiana, you should check out Fort Tassinong Muzzleloaders…..at really fine club……good people, a really nice range with woods walk, out in the country near Kouts In.   Check our site out on internet. Good folks to shoot and socialize with.

mikeyfirelock

[Rmjchas]

Yup, definitely a spokeshave; if not then a 30mm #7 or #8 sweep gouge

[whetrock]

This is not my favorite in terms of usefulness (already listed that one above), but this is the "favorite" I'd hate to lose for emotional reasons. First tool I ever made (not counting the junk we made in middle school shop). Made it to fit the slots in a small Siler kit. Steel from a piece of crane cable. Is still my favorite for lock work.

[AMartin]

Might not be a tool but as one of my formal clients use to say , my favorite gunmaking tool is my checkbook ..
So , as I try to make a living building flinters ... money is a necessary nuisance .
Without it ... I would be stuffing shelves at the local Grocery !!

[Paul from KY]

A good quality patternmaker's vise.