Firearms are so much more than just mere self-protection or hunting tools. If you’re like me, then you’re probably passionate about all of the beautiful craftwork that goes into a well built gun. In turn, you probably fancy becoming a Gunsmith yourself. Many weapons enthusiasts and aficionados turn to this career path. Enrolling in one of the Gunsmithing schools which can train you is fairly easy and straight forward. Once you’ve made up your mind, simply research the best accredited Gunsmith schools in your local area using our website. Keep in mind, a large portion of your educational training amounts to learning how to and perfecting the use of a wide range of Gunsmithing tools. I would argue that this step is the very foundation of becoming a quality Gunsmith. If you wonder how these tools look and how Gunsmiths use them, we’ve created a comprehensive guide on how to use Gunsmithing tools as a modern day Gunsmith.
Gunsmithing Tools Commonly Found in a Gunsmith Tool Kit
From the very beginning of their training and career, Gunsmiths make extensive use of basic hand tools. These hand tools include hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers. However, basic hand tools also include punches, stones and files. Gunsmiths predominantly use basic hand tools to physically alter their gun components. Even if some of them sound pretty familiar to your day-to-day usage (such as the hammer and screwdriver), these versions are specialty models specifically adapted to the world of Gunsmithing. You cannot simply replace the specialty Gunsmith models with regular versions of a screwdriver.
Gunsmith training also requires extensive usage and mastery over measurement tools. These measurement tools include inside and outside micrometers which are used for measuring circular metalwork. Measurement tools also include inside and outside capeliers which measure the length of certain components in the firearm. Accuracy is essential when creating or maintaining your own firearm. A small miscalculation can totally change the way a weapon operates. Because of this, many accredited Gunsmith degree programs regard measurement instruments as perhaps the most important tools at a Gunsmiths disposal.
The third general category of tools at a Gunsmiths disposal can be found in almost any Gunsmith’s tool kit. I’m talking about the machine tools of course. Machine tools include power drills, milling machines and a wide variety of lathes. Modern Gunsmiths use lathes to cut, sand, or drill the materials. They do so in order to refine them into a valid gun component. Accuracy here is extremely crucial. That is precisely why milling machines are so central to this career. Industries which manufacture metal parts frequently make use of these milling machines. However, Gunsmiths also frequently use them in conjunction with other tools serving as attachments. For example, pairing reamers gives Gunsmiths the benefit of holding a specific component very still while the machine drills accurate holes into it. The machine’s ability to apply constant pressure while still holding the material in place is far more reliable than a person’s capability to do so. Because of this, modern day Gunsmiths and their creations are far more reliable than those from 100 years ago.
Besides these basic tool kits, Gunsmiths depend on other instruments (such as engraving tools which allow them to make custom engravings in the firearms). Certain tool kits have been specially designed for the build or repair of a specific kind of firearm. The most popular specialty Gunsmith kits are the probably the AR 15 Gunsmithing tools and the 1911 Gunsmithing tools.
Gunsmiths also use certain items which fall more into the category of safety equipment than traditional tools. They are a necessary part of any modern day Gunsmith’s arsenal. Each Gunsmith uses facemasks, heavy duty gloves and sleeves, as well as safety glasses when performing every day duties as a Gunsmith. This equipment prevents any bodily harm due to accidents.
How Gunsmithing Tools Changed Through the Past 100 Years
It’s safe to say that modern day Gunsmiths have many more sophisticated tools in his or her kit than the early 20th century Gunsmiths. When it comes to Gunsmithing, many fascinating accounts exist regarding what this trade used to entail in colonial times. Some people still reenacted Gunsmithing today. Over the past 100 years, Gunsmithing largely developed along with general technology surrounding the firearms industry. The toolkit of a Gunsmith doesn’t look at all similar between a colonial Gunsmith and a modern Gunsmith. The Gunsmithing tools from 100 years ago already included many of the tools used today.
The major difference between Gunsmithing in early America and the career today is that, back then, Gunsmiths didn’t possess sufficiently advanced machines to make their tools more accurate. While Gunsmiths still used benches, presses, and drilling machines, these tools were far less efficient and reliable compared to the tools of a modern day Gunsmith.
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