The Modern Gunsmith by James Virgil Howe is a comprehensive two-volume reference work originally published in the 1930s, considered one of the most detailed guides ever written on the art and science of gunsmithing. It covers virtually every aspect of firearm design, construction, repair, and customization, from barrel making and stock shaping to metal finishing, sight installation, and trigger mechanisms. Howe, a master gunsmith and former member of Griffin & Howe, wrote the book both for professional craftsmen and skilled amateurs who wanted to understand the fine details of precision gun work. Beyond technical instruction, it also explores the tools, materials, and workshop methods essential to the trade, blending practical knowledge with traditional craftsmanship. Decades later, The Modern Gunsmith remains a foundational text in the field, valued by collectors, restorers, and historians for its depth, clarity, and timeless guidance on the principles of gunsmithing.
All of the book titles that are included in this DVD are listed as follows:
~ The Modern Gunsmith ~
by James Virgil Howe
Table of Contents for Volume 1
The Workshop, Tools and General Equipment
Special Home-made Tools and Equipment
Materials, Metals and Supplies
The Use of Tools
Reading and Making Drawings
Safety with Firearms
Selection of Woods
Designing the Gun Stock
Laying Out the Stock, Inletting the Action
Modeling and Shaping the Stock
Bedding Barrels and Actions
Giving the Stock Its Final Finish
Checkering, Carving and Inlays
Stock Surgery
Laminated Woods for Gun Stocks
Modernizing Military Small Arms
Fitting of Sighting Equipment
Replacement of Small Working Parts
Hand-forging and Heat-Treatment
Revolver and Pistol Repairs
Problems of the Trigger Pull
Amateur Etching and Engraving
Stripping Actions, Oiling and Minor Repairs
Minor Repairs and Adjustments
Miscellaneous Formulas and Methods
Soldering, Brazing and Welding
Field Repair Kits and Devices
Experimental Factors Governing Small-Arms Ammunition
Mechanical Definitions and Phrases
Table of Contents for Volume II
Machinery, Power and General Tool Equipment
Special Gunshop Tools and Accessories
Tools and Methods of Tool Making
Die Making
Whims and Fancies in Firearms
Principles of Iron and Steel
Heat-Treatment of Steel
Rifle Barrel Design and Fitting
Barrel Tools and Their Construction
Barrel Drilling and Reaming
Riffling Barrels
Barrel Turning, Chambering, and Headspacing
The .22 Caliber Hornet - Design and Conversion
Relining of Rifle Barrels
Striking Barrels and Polishing Gun Parts
The Art of Bluing and Browning
Care of Firearms: Cleaning Bores and Removing Obstructions
Lapping Barrels and Polishing Shotgun Bores
Special Gun Parts and Their Construction
Manufacture of Gun Sights
Spring Making
Bullet Swages and Case-resizing Dies
Bullet Moulds
Restoration and Preservation of Antique Firearms
Shotgun Repairs
The Art of Gun Engraving
Appraisal of Craftsmanship
Review of Military Small Arms
... PLUS OVER 14 RELATED GUNSMITHING BOOKS ...
Sporting Rifles and Rifle Shooting (1920) - 374 Pages
Rifles and Rifle Shooting (1919) - 257 Pages
American Inventions and Improvements in Breech-Loading Small Arms (1880)
Our Rifles Firearms in American History (1920)
Theory and Design of Recoil Systems and Gun Carriages (1921)
Deep Hole Drilling in Gun Construction (1910)
Machine-Gun Drill Regulations (1918)
The Gun and its Development (1897)
Guns Ammunition and Tackle (1904)
Gun Making in the United States (1907)
The Breech-Loader and How to Use it (1898)
Modern Shot Guns (1891)
Smokeless Powder and its Influence on Gun Construction (1890)
New Methods of Machine-Gun Fire (1916)