The gunsmith's manual

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

71928

Title

The gunsmith's manual

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A comprehensive 1883 handbook for American gunsmiths, offering practical guides to manufacturing, repairing, and finishing firearms. It covers everything from forging barrels and stocks to assembling complex breech-loading mechanisms, serving as an essential trade manual for the era.

Summary up to 500 words

The Gunsmith's Manual, authored by J. P. Stelle and Wm. B. Harrison, stands as an exhaustive trade reference for the late 19th-century firearms industry. Published in 1883, the text serves as both a workshop manual and a comprehensive guide for enthusiasts, bridging the gap between historical context and practical application. The narrative begins with the history of gunpowder and early arms, tracing the evolution from the earliest hand guns and arquebuses to the advanced breech-loaders and percussion locks of the era. This historical foundation sets the stage for the book's primary focus: the technical intricacies of the gunsmithing trade. The manual provides rigorous step-by-step instructions for crafting every component of a firearm. It details the selection of materials, specifying hard maple for durable workbenches and hickory for ramrods, while offering precise methods for boring barrels, creating bullet moulds, and crafting locks. A significant portion is dedicated to the metallurgy of the trade, including specific formulas for case-hardening steel, welding, and tempering. The authors also address the chemistry of the profession, offering recipes for browning and varnishing to protect firearms from rust and ensure a professional finish. Beyond mechanics, the book extensively catalogs the tools required for the profession, from anvil and forge to specialized breeching taps and calipers. It includes detailed instructions on constructing a proper workbench and creating custom tools like wire winding devices for springs. The text further explores the nomenclature of gun parts, defining terms for stocks, locks, hammers, and springs, alongside a vocabulary of mechanical and chemical substances used in finishing. A vital resource for understanding mechanical intricacies, the manual dedicates substantial space to the disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly of specific models from major manufacturers such as Colt, Remington, Parker, Lefever, and Smith & Wesson. It covers everything from the Old Colt's Revolver to the Lefever Hammerless Gun and the Parker Double-Barreled Shotgun. The guide concludes with advice on judging gun quality, shooting techniques for rifles and shotguns, and safety considerations. Ultimately, The Gunsmith's Manual offers a complete handbook for the American gunsmith, preserving the knowledge and craftsmanship of a pivotal era in firearms history.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/71928.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg71928.epub

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Downloaded at

2026-07-08 08:15 UTC

Categories

• Gunsmithing