Freudianfloyd
Member
I have been buying and collecting tools as long as I have been messing with guns, which is practically my entire life. I have a garage full of tools, so many that I can barely find a place to work, and I organize it for fun.
I have always had tools for home projects, or working on equipment, cars, or the house, and I even went through a 2 cycle engine repair phase and loaded up on tools specific for Stihl and Husqvarna chainsaws.
But what I have found the more I mess with old guns and try to bring them back to life, is the fact that even with all my tools, I am very lacking in gunsmithing tools and equipment. It just doesn't seem like many of the tools I have (mostly mechanics tools) are very useful in the gunsmithing world. Even things as simple as Snap on punches and screwdrivers are not recommended for using on guns.
I have always been able to make a tool or modify a tool to get the job done if I don't have one, but after watching some pros on YouTube, such as Larry Potterfield, it seems to do anything right, there is a tool you need, and one I do not have.
This past couple of weeks I had to come up with a tool to stake rivets in an 870 receiver, I was able to make something work, but I still went ahead and ordered a set of staking tools to do it right the next time. I also need to fit a recoil pad to the same gun, guess what, there is a tool to do that right too. I guess I need to get another toolbox to start filling with gunsmithing tools.
I know I could always take my guns to a gunsmith, but where is the fun in that? I enjoy fixing things on my own and learning along the way.
Just found this amusing. When I told my wife about all the tools I don't have, she didn't believe me. To her, there is no way I don't have a tool to do any job somewhere.
I have always had tools for home projects, or working on equipment, cars, or the house, and I even went through a 2 cycle engine repair phase and loaded up on tools specific for Stihl and Husqvarna chainsaws.
But what I have found the more I mess with old guns and try to bring them back to life, is the fact that even with all my tools, I am very lacking in gunsmithing tools and equipment. It just doesn't seem like many of the tools I have (mostly mechanics tools) are very useful in the gunsmithing world. Even things as simple as Snap on punches and screwdrivers are not recommended for using on guns.
I have always been able to make a tool or modify a tool to get the job done if I don't have one, but after watching some pros on YouTube, such as Larry Potterfield, it seems to do anything right, there is a tool you need, and one I do not have.
This past couple of weeks I had to come up with a tool to stake rivets in an 870 receiver, I was able to make something work, but I still went ahead and ordered a set of staking tools to do it right the next time. I also need to fit a recoil pad to the same gun, guess what, there is a tool to do that right too. I guess I need to get another toolbox to start filling with gunsmithing tools.
I know I could always take my guns to a gunsmith, but where is the fun in that? I enjoy fixing things on my own and learning along the way.
Just found this amusing. When I told my wife about all the tools I don't have, she didn't believe me. To her, there is no way I don't have a tool to do any job somewhere.
