Here is another stock modification ready to head to the range with its owner. If you need stock work stop by the shop to discuss your project.
Category Archives: gunsmithing
My Alma Mater is Sportin’ a New Website
I do not know when it was actually updated, but I finally noticed that the Pennsylvania Gunsmith School (PGS) has updated its website. This is something that has been a long time in coming.
If gunsmithing interests you give the PGS new website ⇒ a look. Classic American Gunsmith is listed in the Alumni Professional Links ⇒ page.
Muzzle Threading
Updating existing guns to handle an array of muzzle devices, including suppressors, is something we do regularly. Stop by the shop to discuss your project.
Random Knowledge: Marlin 336 Firing Pins
Marlin 336 rifles have two part firing pins. The two parts are the firing pin, front and firing pin. rear. There is an old style and a new style firing pin, front. The dividing line for which style firing pin, front a gun takes is the year of manufacture. Guns manufactured in 1984 and after take the new style firing pin, front. Those made in 1983 and before take the old style firing pin, front.
Footnotes / Sources:
Marlin Firearms Customer Service Department. “Customer Service Call.” Telephone interview. 17 June 2016.
DIY Gunsmithing Workshop: AR Platform Maintenance
Our gunsmith and graduate of the Pennsylvania Gunsmith School’s Master Gunsmithing Program, Patrick Heraghty, will be teaching a Do It Yourself Gunsmithing Workshop on the AR Platform Maintenance on Saturday, 2 Apr 2015 from noon to four PM at the Rivanna Rifle & Pistol Club (RRPC) main clubhouse.
The cost is $10 per attendee. Any proceeds that are not used for the workshop will go towards the maintenance of RRPC firearms and / or the RRPC youth program.
Attendees are required to have an AR for the hands on portion of the course.
The DIY Gunsmithing Workshops are geared towards giving attendees who have a basic set of tools the skills they need to work on their own guns.
If you are a member of RRPC, please contact Patrick Heraghty at 434-989-1263, gunsmith@classicamericangunsmith.com or by stopping by the shop if you, or your guest, would like to sign up, have questions, etc.
Attendees are admitted to the course on a first come first served basis.
DIY Gunsmithing Workshop: Glock Pistols
Our gunsmith and graduate of the Pennsylvania Gunsmith School’s Master Gunsmithing Program, Patrick Heraghty, will be teaching a Do It Yourself Gunsmithing Workshop on the Glock Pistol on Saturday, 30 Jan 2015 from noon to four PM at the Rivanna Rifle & Pistol Club (RRPC) main clubhouse.
The cost is $10 per attendee. Any proceeds that are not used for the workshop will go towards the maintenance of RRPC firearms and / or the RRPC youth program.
Attendees are required to have a Glock Pistol for the hands on portion of the course.
The DIY Gunsmithing Workshops are geared towards giving attendees who have a basic set of tools the skills they need to work on their own guns.
If you are a member of RRPC, please contact Patrick Heraghty at 434-989-1263, gunsmith@classicamericangunsmith.com or by stopping by the shop if you, or your guest, would like to sign up, have questions, etc.
Attendees are admitted to the course on a first come first served basis.
Random Knowledge: Brown Bess Frizzen
A recent client speculated that the frizzen of his Brown Bess flintlock musket was too hard. The issue is not enough spark. Thus, if the frizzen is too hard it would not be effected by the flint and diminshed sparking would be the result.
I made a call to the folks that know everything muzzleloader (Track of the Wolf, http://www.trackofthewolf.com/,763-633-2500), and found that the frizzen of a Brown Bess flintlock musket should be 62-64 HRC (Hardness Rockwell C Scale).
The next step is to test the hardness and see if it is within range.
What is a Gunsmith Kink?
After we posted our first gunsmith kink yesterday, someone asked, “What is a gunsmith kink?”
If you are not familiar with the term “kink” used in this manner, it refers to “a clever unusual way of doing something.” Thus, a Gunsmith Kink is a shop short cut, tip, or trick that that improves quality, makes a given process easier, etc.
They are mostly small things, or unique tools that that typically come from experience or have been handed down from one gunsmith to another.
We post one here from time to time. Watch for the category “kink.”
Footnotes / Sources:
“Kink ⇒.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 15 July 2015.
Gunsmith Kink: Clean Acraglas From Hands
When using Brownells Acraglas it is easy to get it on your hands, etc. I use vinegar to remove it from my skin after a job. It will take off the unmixed components or the mixed epoxy.
After posting the above kink, someone correctly pointed out that vinegar, being mainly acetic acid and water, will cause rust and/or loss of bluing on gun metal. Thus, while vinegar still works for hands, aprons, clothing (used away from gun metal), if you are cleaning acraglas from gunmetal use TCE or lacquer thinner.