The Craftmans Shop > Backyard Ballistics

Craftsmanship is alive.

<< < (2/3) > >>

Jonny:
Nice work on the whole certainly the Damascus forging with but he could learn a lot in the UK after 5-10 years training. Nice gap under the barrels. Cringe at some of the things.
Trying hard not to sound dismissive but thats pretty much machine made, craftmanship comes from making by hand and theres only a few in the world that can to more elaborate intricate designs and shaping.

 

ieezitin:
Johnny.

I did not read your comment in a derogatory way, I understand it.

I too really appreciate art made by hand by a craftsman in any field.

But I still say this guy is an artisan. It takes skill to envision your job in its shape and angles in ones mind, then by using the machines to sculpt wood and metal into a functioning product, machining undoubtedly is an art.

Eons ago where the black smith would forge the steel then deliver it to the gun maker and he would fettle and file away a lump of metal is 500 years gone, one of the lathes most important contributions to society today was it was a perfect tool for gun making, my point here is the gun maker picked up machining pretty quick to make beautiful weapons.

If you have any links on English hand made gun making please post, other than machining gun making is a passion of mine.

Anthony.

Jonny:
Very happy you took it that way.
Cheaper and mid range guns agree CNC or wire cut etc but quality guns a big no.
People are still paying same price for machine made as hand made, this first came to light from your side of the pond and totally agree. Sales dropped why pay £98k for a certain gun that was made with the same machines that Beretta use.
No specialists as in lock, stock and barrel engineers are employed who moan about removing 4 thou. A clean and polish up from a second cut file will remove 3 to 4 thou.
So the art in gunmaking is sitting behind a computer screen, but they cant get that right.

There are a few who can make by hand less than 5, to my knowledge dont think computer literate. Even if they was, i very much doubt they would pass on time served ways of doing things to teach others. Most of these specialists started up on their own decades ago in a close knit society.

Personally i just admire the complexity of most side by side side locks, working down to microns finished or it wont work. Best period around 1930 to 1960 ish.

See what we can drag up.

Jonny:
I was allowed to take these 8 or 9 years ago, but nothing more for giving the game away.
Its spring making only showing initial first stages.

Look at the difference in lock quality, these were hand made at the time.




Just noticed spring clamps above hammer.
Yes people still file things by hand school leavers, far better job.

I can tell you how most stuff is made but no piccies.

Jonny:
We used to do 1 of these a month for a quality gunmaker in Scotland.
The parts were all cnc, wire cut etc but still had to be drilled, tapped, fitted down, relieved, shaped, hardened and polished up for an in the white supply. Made main springs as normal, these are easy for me but usually do the V springs as they look better and are stronger than wire cut.
Theres only so far you can go with cnc wire cut etc and only as good as the gunmaker behind the keyboard.
Material has to be left on in most areas to fit but certain things like the trigger blades came just as a shape. It would have been far easier to file in the trigger shape after fitting in to the slots, since you cant hold it. Then to top that after fitting what came file the blade shaping by feel, was on hands and knees.
Worst bits are the trigger guards, came just as a flat shape. Thread first then fit, no gaps wedged in and screwed down, then file internally and externally- Iy just flexes and vibrates no where to brace or hold. Better with a casting.
Mind you didnt care for the safe arrangement.
Shapings the thing and had to make it look like it wasnt machine made.


Thats a weeks work dont look much. Just used to look upon it as a job to do.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page