The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-05-09
Reporter Learns how Guns are Made
Interesting Extract from His
Notebook

MANY of our readers will appreciate
the opportunity to go along with the
Utica, IN. W Tribune's reporter for a
glimpse at portions of the big factory
at Iiion, N. Y, where Remington fire
arms are made, especially as few visi-
tors are ever allowed to inspect this
famous plant because of the exclusive
machinery and other manufacturing
secrets there so closely guarded. We
quote from the Tribune mans story:
"Perhaps one of the most interest
ing departments of the factory to an
outsider is that devoted to the boring
and rifling of gun barrels. How do
they bore the hole so straight through
a long rod? is the question that many
a sportsman no doubt has asked him.
self. Here'on may find the answer:
In the first place special boring tool
is used. The tool, which is the exact
size of the hole desired, has cutting
edge on its tip. 1t is mounted on a
long, hollow rod and the tool itself is
hollow, so that oil can be forced
through it and applied to the point
where the cutting is taking place.
"The bar of steel that is to be bored
is mounted in a lathe and revolved
rapidly, while the tool stands still.
About 40 minutes is required to bore
a barrel and somehow the hole is
straight. It seems wonderful that it
does not deviate from the center. The
barrels are not always straight, how
ever In another room a couple of men
were seen Strengthening barrels. Hold
ing each barrel to the light THE work
man peers through it with his trained
eye instantly detecting any bend. The
barrel lies between powerful jaws and
a hand wheel applies pressure here
and there, where touch is needed.
These men are very expert and they
correct these defects very swiftly
"The spiral grooves inside the bar
rel, called the rifling, are the work of a
machine that resembles the boring ma
chine A long with a sharp cutter
near its end passes through the bar
rel, which revolves at just the right
speed to insure the desired number of
the spiral in the barrels lengthcm
turns of the spiral in the barrels
length. The workman applies guage
to ascertain when teh cutting has
reached the correct depth. Gauges
are used everywhere and the product
is constantly undergoing inspection.
There are 24S inspection points and
5l7 gauges. A trigger is meausred 81
times before it reaches the assembling
department and other parts are as
closely watched.
"The finished guns are subjected to
many tests. First there is a trial of
strength A double charge is inserted
and the gun pointed into a bank of
sand. The charge is fired and. if the
barrel is uninjured, its strength is as
sured. Then follows tests for action
and speed and, if the gun be an auto
loader the swift reattle of its dis
charges is surprising.
Then comes target tests, in which
expert marksmen are employed. Rifle
after rifle is laid in rest and fired at
a target upon the hillside and the re-
suits are noted through telescope.
Shotguns are discharged at paper tar
gets in the shooting gallery. The shot
holes are counted and, if less than rs
per cent of the shot are found within
a 30-inch circle, the gun is considered
imperfect.
I'VE pass. through room after room
filled with forest of flying belts. We
walk through long aisles talked by
machines; it seems like a journey of
miles until we came to the last stage,
the shipping room. Here THE compiet-
ed firearms are packed for shipment
to every civilized county on the
globe.