Guns?

Disco Stu

Disco Stu

Joined
Nov 9, 1999
Messages
1,137
Anyone here expanded their knifemaking skills to include guns? I recently found an old french MAB 7.65mm pistol in my father's workshop. He said I could have it if I wanted to fix it up. I did. I had to scrape a lot of rust off and fix a couple things but it was in decent shape considering it's likely pre-WW2. I had to repair the grip safety because it didn't work. Looked kinda like it was filed down. I also made a set of rosewood grips and am re-bluing using the old rust blue method which takes forever and a day. It's starting to look damn good and all of the moving bits seem to work smoothly now. Made a holster too. I'll post pics when I'm done if anyone would like to see. here is a pic of the gun cold blued:

gun.jpg


Cold bluing kept rubbing off so I'm trying a rust blue. If that doesn't work I'll have to ship it to my friend in Penn. with hot bluing equipment.
 
Hey DS that's great. Gunsmithing and knifemaking seem like a natural match to me. Keep sharing as you go, at least with me via emai!

Dave
 
I built this one last year. I also built a pump action AR pistol about the same time but can't find a picture. I'm working on the stock for a 1917 Enfield now I converted to 375 H&H Magnum. (I have several of the converted 1917's) I used to say that a good gunsmith could build anything but I am convinced that a knifesmith is more talented!

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Pistolsmithing is what got me into knifemaking.

Here is my current project...conversion of the HK SL8-1 into a HK G36 clone. I am waiting on the Special Weapons -made G36 rear stock but in the meantime I modified the existing thumhole stock into a proper stock with some fiberglass resin and Alumahyde.

The nylon receiver of the originally grey colored SL8 was dyed black by me and the rifle also has the addition of the SW AR-15 magwell conversion as well as the HK mfg G36 3X optic and G36 forearm.

Barrel was originally a bull, but I had it cut down to 16" and contoured and threaded to accept a fake HK flash hider. Another few weeks and the G36 stock will be on it!

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You guys will never get any knives made if you keep working on guns. I think you should start with a pile of steel and invent your own gun and knife combination. You will see that knifemaking gives you skills that most gunsmiths just dont learn. They cant grind! Most of them are dammed good machinists though.
 
Speaking of gunsmiths... has anyone heard of a gunsmith named John E. Freeman? He ran a gunshop in Stockton, CA.
 
A year ago, I didn't know squat about tools or anything, and after starting on making knives, I think I know a decent amount about tools now. It comes in handy all the time, including working on my guns. :) Had to modify my forend on my 870 with my knifemaking tools so the back wouldn't keep butting in the band on my heat shield. Polished some parts before too, and blued, and did a nice job modifying my magazine tube to take a 2 round extender. Wish I had a digital camera. My next project will be a SAR-1, don't know what I'm going to do with it yet, but I'm thinking about stripping the finish and blueing it or maybe sandblast and Kalgard? Haven't really done anything big yet. By next year, I probably will. :)
 
:eek:1917 Enfield now I converted to 375 H&H Magnum:eek:


Are you sure that old bolt gun can handle that cartridge???

Dont you have to cut a lot of metal out of the chamber to get the 375 in there???????

I dont want to rain on your parade but PLEASE make sure you dont blow your face off with this setup..........OK?
 
You have to rebarrel it Tom. Besides the chamber doesn't have much to do with the strength of a boltgun anyway. It's the lug/bolt area and the bolt face. The bolt face has to be opened up some to handle the .375 as well as the extractor. Non of these effect the strength.
besides the 1917 can handle just about anything out there. In addition to that,the .375 is a somewhat lower pressure (due to the case size) cartridge than the 30/06 (present chambering). I've converted dozens of these 1917's over the years. Never had a problem. This is not the same rifle as the Lee Enfield. They can't shoot anything much hotter than the 303.

Bruce, that's a beautiful combo that you made. have you played with it anymore. I sure hope you didn't sell it. It's just too nice to part with.
 
The old P17 enfield, is one of the strongest bolt actions ever made. I don't think there is too much it couldn't handle.
Only real modification I like on them, is a cock on opening conversion. Besides normal customization, of course. :D
 
I've made several non-fireing peices such as a couple of Tompson's that, when I went back to the gun shop to show the owner who's real one I copied, a retired cop was looking them over for serial numbers. A real unintended compliment.

I've been begging for someone who makes black powder guns to put me on to a parts supplier to make more BP handguns.

Faking it, Lynn
 
If you do decide to make a real one Lynn, you can make the entire thing from scratch and no serial numbers. You can't sell, give it away or transfer in any way but as long as you keep it you don't need any of that BS.
Most ATF people doen't even know that but it's always been the law. After getting them to do some research I even got a letter from the Tech Review Branch at the ATF. I won a hundred dollars at a gun show once from a manufacturer that said it wasn't so. I bet him and showed him the letter.:D You cannot make prohibited weapons though (like full auto Thompsons or preban outfitted assault weapons).
 
Lynn, I believe CVA supplies BP parts etc. Also Dixie gun works.
I could be wrong though.:confused:
 
Peter, yes I sold it. I did shoot it 4 times first. I have a new one in the works. only about another 400 hours and it should be done.
 
Lynn, Mike's right. Both companies sell parts although at the risk of starting a riot, IMHO CVA's stuff is pure junk. Dixie is better. There are many good smiths on the net who make forged parts at a fair price.

My first muzzleloader was giving me a fit trying to make the double trigger. I went to Williamsburg and whined until the gunsmith there showed me how to forge and fit a set. Look for someone local who does it. They are generally pretty good fellows and will show/help you make the parts. There is not one single part on a muzzleloader that cannot be made in house. It just takes practice. This includes revolvers.
 
Peter, Im impressed. Dam I wish I lived close to Williamsburg. I did watch "The Gunsmith of Williamsburg" video 3 times. I love that one. I agree CVA is junky. I have 2 of the rifles and a pistol. Black powder is alot of fun.
 
Guns, muahahahahhahahaaaaaa!!!! I got two or three gun ideas been rollin round my noggin for ages and as soon as I get my lathe set up I'm gonna start workin on em. Gonna build an ambidextrous inline 50cal black powder hunting/target pistol and then a 6 shot 50 cal black powder revolver rifle. It'll be a crude mechanism but it sure will be grand if it works. Also going to fix up a 50cal black powder barrel to fit my H&R Topper. Gonna keep lookin for several caliber bull barrels to rig up for my topper too.
Guns and knives just go together!
 
o.k. i am not a gunsmith but i took a gunsmith class for a few months and i built this .45 officers model on a stainless caspian frame, colt internal parts and a para ordnance slide. shoots very good

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i like that officers model. yep guns and knives go together. i did a trigger job on my s&w model 66, and i have a few ideas for firearms too!
 
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