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Joined: Sep 2016
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For those of us who would like an in-depth double gun reference library, what do you all consider to be the best books (or other sources) to fill the shelves?

How about your top 5 books/resources?

My list (not intentionally in any order) is through the eyes of a beginner (interested primarily in vintage British and Spanish Doubles):

1. Desmond Mills Amateur Gunsmithing:
I used this as a guide to strip and clean my AyA 4/53 boxlock. I found it to be very clear and useful.

2. Jack Rowe videos on Midway and Brownells YouTube stations. I've watched them for hours.

3. Dig Haddoke's books, especially Vintage Guns, have been a good introduction to restoring and caring for old guns, and his website has been very useful, especially for traditional oil finishing.

4. Stephen Dodd Hughes, Fine Gunmaking Double Shotguns. Of course it's an explicit 'don't try this at home' book and intentionally sparse, but it's got some great info nonetheless.

5. Finally, this forum has been extremely helpful...

... Which is why I'm asking for help now with making a 'next level' reading list.







Last edited by Woodreaux; 04/14/19 09:27 AM.

Jim
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"The gun and its development" by W.W. Greener is fascinating.
"The art of gunsmithing - the shotgun" by Lewis Potter is full of good info
and,
"Gunsmithing" by Roy F. Dunlap , whilst not specifically a shotgun book is jam packed with all kinds of handy stuff.
"The British shotgun" Vol's 1-3 by I.M. Crudgington contain a mind boggling amount of info on designs and patents
I also found Richard Arnold's book on auto's very good too.

Last edited by Nick. C; 04/14/19 07:16 PM.

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On two ends of the price spectrum are Gun Craft by Venters, and Shotgun Technicana. There's a book written from the amatuer Smith's point of view by a fellow that used to visit here, Tony Treadwell, called Vintage English Shotguns and Their Restoration.

There're countless tidbits sprinkled in books dedicated to makers and shooting. Libraries can get a little excessive, but in a good way. Don't rule out best rifle making references. Another good online source to look around on is the Explora on the Westley Richards site, if your weren't aware of it. Best of luck with your search.

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Excellent. Thanks to both of you. That gives me a good starting place for the library. I've got several books, but, for the most part, they're either too general, with only a chapter or so on double guns, or they're too superficial with the assumption that only a trained gunsmith should ever attempt more than the absolute simplest jobs.


Jim
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Sadly Des Mills and Tony Treadwell have passed away but their legacy was good books .
Also try and obtain 'The Modern Gunsmith' two volumes by James Virgil Howe.

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I've updated this to be a list of the books I've currently got on the shelf, as well as those that I am in search of. Hopefully this will be a good list for others who are also trying to learn more about gunsmithing. I may try to add a summary / review for books as I plow through the list.

My current full library list in order of publication:

Greener, WW.......The Gun and Its Development 1910
Vickery, WF........Advanced Gunsmithing 1940
Howe, James.......The Modern Gunsmith 2 Volume Set 1941
Howe, Walter J....Professional Gunsmithing 1946
Dunlap, Roy........Gunsmithing 1963
Brownell, RF.......Gunsmith Kinks 1972
Carmichel, Jim....DIY Gunsmithing 1981
Mills, Desmond....Amateur Gunsmithing 1987
Spearing GW ......The Craft of the Gunsmith 1988
McIntosh, Michael.Shotguns and Shooting 1995
Hughes, SD.........Fine Gunmaking: Double Shotguns 1998
Wieland, Terry....Vintage British Shotguns 2008
Hadoke, Diggory..Vintage Guns 2008
Venters, Vic........Gun Craft: Fine Guns and Gunmakers in the 21st Century 2010
Crudgington IM.... The British shotgun 2011
Hadoke, Diggory...The British Boxlock Gun and Rifle 2012
Kypridemos, Nikitas Linseed Oil Finish: The simple, fast way to a hand rubbed oil finish 2016



Wishlist
Trevallion, David & McIntosh, Michael.Shotgun Technicana
Treadwell, T..... An English Gun-makibg Tradition: Vintage English Shotguns and their Restoration
Hatcher JS Hatcher's Notebook
Hughes SD Double Guns and Custom Gunsmithing
Yardley, Michael Gunfitting
Westbrook, David L Professional Stockmaking: Through the Eyes of a Stockmaker
"Gunsmithing Tips and Projects" from Wolfe Publishing
Bish, Tommy L Home Gunsmithing Digest

Other Resources:
https://www.vintageguns.co.uk/articles/
https://www.theexplora.com/category/publications/

Video Playlists:
General Gunsmithing videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBh4uEWS8_ubeV67Ki5lHosi6rIZY8ek8
Jack Rowe by Midway https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEUyTWz75c-r96hvqhOuKFxJ0w8uvRP2n
Jack Rowe by Brownell: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBh4uEWS8_ubNPeqVDClG0_y3pYA_giHX
General Gunsmithing with Larry Potterfield: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1597A9911EB61B5A

Last edited by Woodreaux; 05/30/19 11:57 AM.

Jim
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G W Spearing's book is one of my favourites. There's some very useful info inside and a great read.


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That one just arrived in my mailbox today! Looking forward to reading it.


Jim
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Your current gunsmithing library looks pretty decent. I agree with craigd that "Shotgun Technicana" is worthwhile, but usually pricey when found. It may have additional value as an investment. I thought Tony Treadwell's book was available as an E-book download, but haven't seen any mention recently that his widow is still selling it.

I think the entire four volume set of Brownell's "Gunsmith Kinks" has a lot of useful info, even if most of it is not aimed strictly toward doubles. "Professional Stockmaking: Through the Eyes of a Stockmaker" by David L Wesbrook is very good. And if you will be doing any shotgun stock making, "Gunfitting" by Michael Yardley will be useful. Used copies of Tommy L. Bish's "Home Gunsmithing Digest" can be found very reasonably priced, and have some good info, even though it is aimed more toward beginners. There used to be a lot of excellent gunsmithing articles years ago in RIFLE Magazine when guys like John Bivens and Henry Beveridge were regularly contributing articles.

"Amatuer Gunsmithing" by Mills was OK, but I was a bit disappointed considering what I paid for it. And you have already seen that the Steven Dodd Hughes books are "intentionally sparse", and offer very little except nice pictures and self promotion. I wish I hadn't wasted my money on them. And that opinion has nothing to do with him recently calling me on the phone and making drunken obscene threats. Apparently, he didn't like me mentioning that he had been using this site for free advertising for his over-priced classes. Liberal gunsmiths can be awfully sensitive.


A true sign of mental illness is any gun owner who would vote for an Anti-Gunner like Joe Biden.

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Thanks. I added those books to my wishlist in the post. Hopefully the list will be helpful to others like me looking for guidance on what to buy.


Jim
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