Collection of names with some biographical information of tradesmen who made firearms and other weapons, and repaired the same, in Massachusetts from the earliest times, c. 1610, until 1900. Photographs of some representative firearms.

Although called gunsmiths, they rarely labored on guns during colonial times. An important part of the community, the gunsmith most likely focused on other types of metal work, but occasionally assembled firearms. This historical volume chronicles the formative years of the United States through the activities and occupations of its most important community members. It explore the everyday life, responsibilities, social life, and the affect the gunsmith had on the colonial American way of life. Hands-on activities and recipes, sidebars detailing the history and evolution of the profession, and key social studies words are defined in the glossary.

This volume is written about working on one of the finest sporting firearms ever invented - the shotgun. Included are types of shotgun from everyman's dream gun, the sidelock ejector, to the everyman gun, the humble economy single barrel. It covers the work a gunsmith actually encounters, much of this information has never previously been published and may help the reader appreciate the complexity and great range of skills and knowledge a gunsmith needs, something unique in the 21st century.Topics covered include:Guns and Gunsmithing; Tooling & Equipment; Stripping & Servicing and examination for faults; Minor and advanced barrel work; Rejointing barrels to actions and lockwork; Minor and major stock repairs; Blacking, bluing, browning and engraving; Gun Proof and The Law. The shotgun is one of the finest sporting firearms ever invented.Includes previously unpublished information that will help the reader appreciate the complexity and great range of skills and knowledge a gunsmith needs.Superbly illustrated. Lewis Potter is a full-time gunsmith, rifle maker and field sportsman with experience stretching over forty-five years.

The burgeoning popularity of double guns (both over/unders and side-by-sides) in the United States is no secret, and few gunmakers know more about them than Steven Dodd Hughes, who has been building, repairing, and customizing these firearms for three decades.

Originally published in 1883, The Gunsmith’s Manual is generally considered to be the first substantive work dealing with gunsmithing exclusively and in detail. A comprehensive introductory chapter, one of the manual’s best qualities, provides the reader with an extensive history of the gun, including the invention of gun powder, the first rifle, and much more. Once acquainted with firearms, readers can then move on to learn how guns were made and used in the nineteenth century, as well as terms used in gunsmithing. The real meat of the book, however, is the authors’ detailed instruction on gun care and maintenance. Specifics are offered on tools, workbench materials and setup, metalworking, working with wooden stocks, common repairs, and the process of browning, among many other topics. You can even improve your marksmanship with these expert shooting tips for a variety of firearms. Although first published in the nineteenth century, The Gunsmith’s Manual is highly relevant for today’s firearms owners and tinkerers. The authors’ recommended procedure for removing a rusted-in screw, for example, is still widely used over 100 years later. You can learn to care for your rifle or shotgun as traditional gunsmiths would have. For both the historian and the firearms enthusiast, The Gunsmith’s Manual is an invaluable learning tool.