Owning a firearm does not necessarily mean you need to have a military background. For ages, owing firearms have been a sign of tradition and sophistication, and in every age, gunsmiths have always played a huge role in society.
The job of a gunsmith is not an easy one. If you think once he makes a firearm and the work is done, then that is not true. If a firearm is not maintained and repaired regularly with proper tools, after some time, it becomes a piece of old metal. Gunsmiths have their own style in making them firearms. However, there are some basic tools that all gunsmiths need no matter what.
This article lists 10 of those essential tools down and tells you everything that you need to know about them.
1. Gunsmith Screwdriver Set
Screwdrivers for guns have to be very different from the ordinary hardware screwdrivers because the screws used inside a gun is different from regular screws. If you do not own a special set of gunsmith screwdrivers, you are going to end up damaging the screws in the gun or the area surrounding it.
These special screwdrivers help you to control the torque. This is extremely important because if you are applying to much torque, your hand could slip and hit the nearby area, which can cost you. These screwdrivers are of two kinds.
- Magnetic Replaceable Tips
- Fixed Blade sets.
It really depends on what kind of firearms you are making or repair to make a choice between these two. However, in general, magnetic tips are not that expensive and easier to use, whereas fixed blade sets are more stable and durable.
2. Scope Mounting Kit
One problem that gunsmiths face every day is the situation where scopes have to be mounted on the guns. But there’s a solution for you. You can get a special kit called the scope mounting kit to mount your riflescope.
This kit usually contains a variety of tools like a reticle leveling system, a lens pen, a torque wrench, thread locker, and more. If you have this kit on you, you don’t even need a gunsmith to do the job.
3. Gunsmith Pin Punch Set
Pins are used by a gunsmith when he is repairing or assembling a firearm. They are used to hold the gun into certain positions until the assembling is done. Pin punch is then used to remove those pins from the assembled or repair guns.
It is recommended that you buy an entire set of pin punch so that you have every size available because there is no way to know which one you might need. They are steel and brass pin punches.
People, in general, prefer to use the steel pin punches because the brass ones are softer and cheaper than the steel ones, so the brass punches might bend or break easily. The pins have different names depending on their purpose like starter punch, drift punches, roll pin punches, etc.
4. Gunsmith Hammer
Hammers are another thing that’s essential for gunsmiths because they are used to hit the pins and get them into the place you want them to be. When it comes to hammers, brass hammers are popular as they are softer than steel so they won’t damage the body of the guns, and any marks left by the brass hammer can be easily removed from the gun’s body.
5. Gunsmith Bench Block
Bench block secures the parts of the guns and stops them from rolling away while you are trying to put the pins or remove the pins from them.
They are usually made up of wood, nylon, and polyurethane because you need a softer surface on which you can work with the pins and hammers, and there is no chance in which it can damage the surface of the gun.
Bench blocks come in different shapes and sizes, where some are specific particular models of the guns in the market.
6. Calipers
Calipers, as everybody knows it as used to take measurements, and when you are a gunsmith, you must make taking measurements a habit. Calipers are really handy and crucial to the firearm making and repairing process.
They are quite easy to read and use; hence they come so handy. There are analog calipers, which are quite cheaper, and digital calipers, which are expensive but more accurate.
7. Dykem
It’s a brightly colored liquid used by the gunsmiths to know if two surfaces of the gun are coming in contact with each other or not. How it works is that the liquid, once applied, creates a ting layer that comes off is scratched out.
So if two surfaces are coming in contact with each other, the brightly colored layer will come off. It is essential and very handy when it comes to repairing firearms.
8. Files and Stones
These are used to reshape the insides of the gun for a better feature or smooth finishing. Files are, in general, a very popular tool for any kind of craftsman all over the world. Files and stones are used to reshape the parts of the firearm that the machines can’t reach.
There are many kinds of files available in the market varying in shapes, sizes, lengths, purposes, etc. however, it is recommended that you have a set of files to meet the basic needs.
9. A Cleaning kit
As a gunsmith, one thing that you may need to do frequently is just clean a gun. It doesn’t matter what kind of firearm it is, to function properly, it must be cleaned frequently. Hence having a cleaning kit is of utmost importance.
A cleaning kit comprises multiple things, and it varies for models to models or companies to companies; however, the few things that your cleaning kit must-have are a piece of rod, brushes, and gas in every shape and size and chemical cleaning substances like solvents and oils.
10. Gunsmith Vise
This equipment is used to hold down the firearm when the gunsmith is working on it. It’s a tough instrument, so many covers the vise with leather or a softer material so that the firearm is not damaged in any way. There are two kinds of vises, one with a soft jaw and one with a hard jaw. It depends on what firearms you may be used to choose between the two kinds.
Conclusion
In reality, a gunsmith needs many other tools to operate, but if you are just starting to learn or want to take care of your firearms at home, these 10 tools are a must-have for you. So make sure you have these tools on your workbench, and you will be good to go.
