From: hes@unity.ncsu.edu (Henry E. Schaffer)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Riflesmithing - A Book Review
Date: 12 Apr 92 23:23:33 GMT
Organization: Computing Center, North Carolina State University

The Gun Digest Book of RIFLESMITHING
The Art and Science of Rifle Gunsmithing
Jack Mitchell
DBI Books, Northfield, Ill.  1982
ISBN 0-910676-47-X  8 1/2" x 11" 256 pages paperbound

  This book seems to have lost the battle between the author and
the publisher regarding projected audience and appropriate content.
It is a most unsatisfying book, skipping between very elementary
and very advanced topics, with neither the carry through on the
basics nor the pre-requisites for the advanced topics.  (But don't
stop reading yet, I'll say some nicer things about it below.)

  Locking Systems (Chap. 2) covers at least 10 methods of closing
the breech in 10 pages.  But if you don't already know how all 
these work, you won't learn it here since each is illustrated by
one drawing - not even an exploded or 3-D type of view - so that
it is difficult at best to figure out how it really works.  The
chapter ends with 6 pages covering 6 bolt-action rifle actions,
with a photograph or line drawing for each - giving practically
no information or insight into how they work.

  However, not too many pages past that there is a chapter on
how to shorten the Model 70 Winchester receiver and bolt by
1/2".  This will produce an action weighing 4 or 5 ounces less.
Anyone who needed a picture of a spool of solder just a few
chapters back isn't going to be able to handle this project,
and anyone who can handle this project isn't going to need the
*full-page* picture showing a gunsmith holding a receiver in
one hand and a sandblaster nozzle in the other (page 120.)

  My guess is that the author wanted to write a book on
interesting gun customization projects, visiting an expert
specialist for each chapter and recording (in words and photos)
the project.  Some of the projects would be very advanced, and
some would be fairly simple (such as customizing a wood forend).
Then the publisher said something like - "There's not enough of
a market for that - add a general intro and we can sell the book
as a general introductory book on all of riflesmithing." and the
author went along.  The book is a failure as a general intro -
the cover says "Tools & Techniques:  How to choose and use.  Theory
& Practice: A look at proven designs.  Metal & Wood:  How to finish,
refinish, decorate.  Styling & Rebuilding:  How to do custom
alterations." which promises a much different content than the one
which is delivered.  I think that the book would be a success at
a "topics" book, and you very well may want to get it for what it
does well.  But don't get misled as to what it really does.

Contents  Chapter by Chapter  [my comments in brackets]

Introduction [I think that the author gives his real intent here.]

1  Tools of the Trade:  Listing and Discussing Some - Not Necessarily
    All - of the Tools and Products Needed in Day to Day 
    Riflesmithing [shop apron, files, hammers, calipers, taps and
    dies, etc.]

2  Locking Systems:  There are Good and Bad Systems - Cutsom Riflesmiths
    have their Favorites

3  Polishing and Honing the Action:  Glass-like Smoothness Should be a
    Standard Feature on Every Custom Rifle

4  The Big Bend:  Altering bolt Handles for a Custom Look Can Become
    Art in Itself [basic material, this is important in "sporterizing"
    and in much other custom riflesmithing]

5  Barreling the Action:  Fitting, Chambering, Head-Spacing - Each is
    an Individual Challenge.  Open 'er Up!  Bolt-Face Changes Often
    Follow the New Barrel.  [rebarreling is a very important part of
    basic "heavy-duty" riflesmithing - here covered in 14 pages -
    certainly too little to really cover this. Then opening up the
    bolt face for a larger case base diameter is covered in an
    additional 2 pages]

6  Stamp Out Reproduction: When a Rifle is Rebarreled, You have to
    Have the Numbers; Here's How to Do it Professionally [short chap.
    - hints and kinks on using metal stamps (figures/letters) to stamp
    the caliber, etc. on a rifle barrel]

7  Jeweling Rifle Bolts: The Fine Points of Creating the Pattern of 
    Small Overlapping Circles on Bolts and Similar Brightwork

8  Box Magazine Modifications: The Long, The Short and the Tall Require
    Changes that are Demanding but not Difficult.  [cutting/patching to
    change box magazine size]

9  Custom Alteration of the Remington M700 Recoil Lug:  A Gain in Good
    Looks Without Slightest Sacrifice in Strength of the Rifle  [the
    recoil lug made by the factory is is held to the action by its
    top forming a spacer between the receiver and the barrel - this
    works quite well, but some people apparently feel that it would be
    esthetically better if the barrel to receiver line didn't have a
    spacer ring there.  Other people find that they don't even notice
    this.  Well for people who don't like it and who have the money,
    here is how to replace it with a Mauser-style lug, and to replace
    the barrel also to make everything look "better".  The function
    should be at least satisfactory as the original, which is quite
    adequate.]

10 Shorter Can Be Better: Shortening the Model 70 Winchester Action 
    Reduces Weight, Offers Other Possibilities  [actually an interesting
    long, 26 pg., chapter if you want to see something that a top
    riflesmith can do.  It is well done, easy to follow and fun to
    read - I just object to pretending that this is a part of basic or
    general riflesmithing.]

11 Metal Checkering:  This Technique Offers Functional and Aethestically
    Pleasing Additions to Any Custom Rifle [good basic stuff]

12 Restyling Trigger Guards:  With Care, Patience and the Right
    Equipment, a Resculptured Guard Can Add to the Elegance of the
    Finished Job [basic cutting and refinishing]

13 Trigger Topics:  Wherein We Detail Types, Modifications, Installation
    and Adjustment.  [practically no help if you don't already know this
    topic, and no added help if you do - basically it says that triggers
    can be adjusted and stoned, but gives little help on doing it]

14 Custom Safety Installation: Modernizing this Mechanism Could Be
    Your Cheapest Life Insurance  [misleading subtitle, it's mostly
    about installation of a more stylish safety, and the importance to
    safety of making sure that the new safety works properly]

15 Installing Sights & Scopes: Iron Sights Still Serve Many a Purpose
    in the Field [good basic stuff]

16 The Ins & Outs of Extraction, Ejection: Often Confused, Each is an
    Individual Operation Requiring Individual Attention  [short, but
    good presentation of these relatively simple mechanical functions]

17 Stock Woods: Knowing the Qualities of the Various Species Can
    Simplify Your Proper Choice  [nice general discussion of wood and
    production of stock blanks and semi-inletted stocks, but certainly
    not enough to do the work yourself with only this info]

18 Inletting, Shaping Semi-Inletted Stocks: They're Faster to Work
    Than Blanks to Produce the Same Results.  Pistol Grip Caps Enhance
    A Custom Rifle and Installation Is Not That Difficult.  Butt Plate
    Installation.  [three sections, all with enough detail that one
    could conceivably go on and do these]

19 Bedding the Action: The Most Simple Approach May Be the Best [basics
    on using Acraglas Gel]

20 A Tip On Forends: This Simple Addition Can Dress Up Any Rifle Stock

21 Don't Go Bad On a Pad:  This is a Simple Procedure for Avoiding
    Recoil Pain [more on pad installation, detail on using the B-Square
    jig]

22 The Finished Look:  Going First Class Takes More Time, More Effort
    But Even the Hunter Benefits in the End [stock
    finishing/refinishing]

23 The Detached Look:  If Sling Swivels are to Serve Their Ultimate
    Purpose, Proper Installation Helps  [how to install several types
    in several circumstances]

24 Wood Checkering: It Can Be Simple or it can be Tough; Degree of
    Complication is Up to Your Expertise [introduction to the basic
    processes, little on choosing a pattern or on esthetics]

Riflesmith's Reference Library [short description of 20 reference books,
   including books from other publishers]

Riflesmithing Directory [lists of names/addresses of Custom Gunsmiths,
    Custom Metalsmiths, sources of Gunsmith Supplies, Tools, Services,
    Stocks (Commercial and Custom) and Triggers.

  I think you might benefit from this book and enjoy it if you don't
expect what it doesn't deliver.

--henry schaffer  n c state univ