With today's tools and machines we forget how much skill was required to manufacture a rifle long ago.
- Thread starter whatsupdoc
- Start date
We watched this in Jr. High shop class. I built a flintlock rifle from a Dixie Gunworks kit in high school shop class. If the order for the kit was sent to Dixie on school letterhead it was 30% off.
I still have the rifle.
Thanks for posting this, it is worth the watch.
Thank you,
MrSmith
I still have the rifle.
Thanks for posting this, it is worth the watch.
Thank you,
MrSmith
Hmmm looks like ghost guns have been around for ages.
That would be the redcoats, remember what happened to them?
Very interesting. I didn't know they folded the metal to make barrels back in the day.
Love how one of the narrators sounds like Rod Serling. 
Think about how talented the smith Wallace Gusler is. I dont know how old he was in 1969 when they made that movie
but he looks young.
How many guys have the talent to do all that today? Probably no one.
but he looks young.
How many guys have the talent to do all that today? Probably no one.
Ever see a square reamer? They filed the outside to match the center of the barrel. Crazy.
Wow. I rarely watch videos because i get bored fast. But I watched that one all the way through. I wish I was that talented
Check out how they make spiral wrap Damascus barrels. Old video, not as informative as the OP, but good enough to see the work involved
That video from the OP was one of my favorites back in the early 90's, when I first saw it.
Might even have been the late 80's, come to think of it.
Might even have been the late 80's, come to think of it.
Fun fact: EVERY SINGLE gun in existence today started off being ghost guns in the short time between the finished receiver or frame coming out of the production line and the engraving of a number onto that frame...
In China, it is a known fact in every factory producing weapons for the military that tooling and crews constantly go into "overdrive" mode, cranking out receivers and parts which technically do not exist on any registry. Parts are also known to mysteriously vanish from storerooms. Trucks supplying these factories often depart a little bit heavier than they seem from the outside. Where these rifles and pistols end up, nobody really knows, but the antigun Violence Policy Center knows enough to list China as the country that ranks No. 4 in the highest rates of guns in civilian hands...
This the pic I was thinking of...John Moses Browning's workshop. Amazing what came out of that bench
The OP video is over 50 years old. Apparently the shop is still open and for $95 you can fire a couple flintlocks.
Ive been to Williamsburg, very commercialized but cool, and Jamestown, interesting. Never saw the gun shop, might have to plan a field trip.
Ive been to Williamsburg, very commercialized but cool, and Jamestown, interesting. Never saw the gun shop, might have to plan a field trip.
www.colonialwilliamsburg.org › locations › gunsmith-shopGunsmith Shop - Colonial Williamsburg
Was wondering what it would cost to buy one of his rifles. The video says it took 300 hours to make it. What is his time worth in 1969? Plus materials. Plus a profit margin. Then I found this...
www.rockislandauction.com
If you have the bucks is it worth 7k for the coolness factor of a completely hand made rifle? To me yes.
Wallace Gusler Flintlock Contemporary American Long Rife | Rock Island Auction
1970 Dated, Engraved, and Relief Carved Flintlock Contemporary American Long Rife by Wallace Gusler, Master Gunsmith of Colonial Williamsburg, with Accessories, Including a Wallace Gusler Signed, Engraved, and Wire Inlaid TomahawkWallace Gusler is one of the most influential American long rifle...
If you have the bucks is it worth 7k for the coolness factor of a completely hand made rifle? To me yes.
In 1969 , the minimum wage of United state is $1.60 which is equal to $11.32 in 2019.
Also in 1969, the average starting salary of a Bachelor’s degree graduates in US was $9,504
Here the list of the average wages across all industry sectors in 1969:
In private industry:Hourly wages[United state]
Manufacturing…………………………………..$3.19
Mining………………………………………………$3.61
Contract Construction…………………………$4.79
Transportation and public utilities………..$3.64
Wholesale Trade…………………………………..$3.23
Retail trades…………………………………………$2.30
Finance,insurances and real estates………..$2.93
Service………………………………………………….$2.05
Total gross hourly earning in 1969:$3.04
In private industry: Weekly wages[United state]
Manufacturing…………………………………..$130
Mining………………………………………………$155
Contract Construction…………………………$182
Transportation and public utilities………..$148
Wholesale Trade…………………………………..$130
Retail trades…………………………………………$79
Finance,insurances and real estates………..$109
Service………………………………………………….$91
Total gross weekly earning in 1969…………..$115
In conclusion , The average salary of a person in 1969 was low in today’s standard but they could afford more.
Also in 1969, the average starting salary of a Bachelor’s degree graduates in US was $9,504
Here the list of the average wages across all industry sectors in 1969:
In private industry:Hourly wages[United state]
Manufacturing…………………………………..$3.19
Mining………………………………………………$3.61
Contract Construction…………………………$4.79
Transportation and public utilities………..$3.64
Wholesale Trade…………………………………..$3.23
Retail trades…………………………………………$2.30
Finance,insurances and real estates………..$2.93
Service………………………………………………….$2.05
Total gross hourly earning in 1969:$3.04
In private industry: Weekly wages[United state]
Manufacturing…………………………………..$130
Mining………………………………………………$155
Contract Construction…………………………$182
Transportation and public utilities………..$148
Wholesale Trade…………………………………..$130
Retail trades…………………………………………$79
Finance,insurances and real estates………..$109
Service………………………………………………….$91
Total gross weekly earning in 1969…………..$115
In conclusion , The average salary of a person in 1969 was low in today’s standard but they could afford more.
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but who is Jerry Abbott?Was wondering what it would cost to buy one of his rifles. The video says it took 300 hours to make it. What is his time worth in 1969? Plus materials. Plus a profit margin. Then I found this...
Wallace Gusler Flintlock Contemporary American Long Rife | Rock Island Auction
1970 Dated, Engraved, and Relief Carved Flintlock Contemporary American Long Rife by Wallace Gusler, Master Gunsmith of Colonial Williamsburg, with Accessories, Including a Wallace Gusler Signed, Engraved, and Wire Inlaid TomahawkWallace Gusler is one of the most influential American long rifle...
If you have the bucks is it worth 7k for the coolness factor of a completely hand made rifle? To me yes.
Is he still building rifles?
Not even $25/ hr for his skilled laborWas wondering what it would cost to buy one of his rifles. The video says it took 300 hours to make it. What is his time worth in 1969? Plus materials. Plus a profit margin. Then I found this...
Wallace Gusler Flintlock Contemporary American Long Rife | Rock Island Auction
1970 Dated, Engraved, and Relief Carved Flintlock Contemporary American Long Rife by Wallace Gusler, Master Gunsmith of Colonial Williamsburg, with Accessories, Including a Wallace Gusler Signed, Engraved, and Wire Inlaid TomahawkWallace Gusler is one of the most influential American long rifle...
If you have the bucks is it worth 7k for the coolness factor of a completely hand made rifle? To me yes.
Actually not lost at all… for the past 40 years there has been a massive renaissance of the skills of the Colonial Gunsmith. The Contemporary Longrifles Association has a huge membership and the skills are continuing to thrive. Including people doing their own barrel forging and boring in traditional ways.
Even the master/apprentice system is alive and well, though apprentices are no longer teenagers who have to keep the coal scuttle filled… but are usually very bright 20-somethings who make a good living becoming a master at something other than pushing paper and who will earn a great living as a true artisan/craftsman.
Look up the CLA sometime… and if you do Fakebook, they have a superb community there. About the only thing useless Zucks monstrosity is good for.
Last, the skills are not just gunmaking… where did the trend of “Forged in fire”’stuff come from? These guys. It includes knife makers, leather workers, horners… folks working fur, bead…. There is an amazing “subculture”not long rifle enthusiasts that is keeping the skills alive and even taking them to new heights!
You just have to know where to look for them!
Sirhr
PS… one fun place is the Primitive Biathlon events… look those up and attend one! They are a blast. Pardon the pun. And attract some real shooter/athletes! Sort of PRS meets Jeremiah Johnson.
Oh… a link or two…. For those in TN and KY, the annual CLA shows are supposed to be j credible. Never made one myself… but someday!
Cheers,
Sirhr
Cheers,
Sirhr
Oh and last…
Ed Parry has made/restored several guns for me. Ex Navy guy who taught himself the skills. Brilliant maker in Connecticut. And a super fun guy.
Here is another video worth the watch. If you thought longrifle makers were just sort of hacking things out of wood and making them pretty… this delves into how they actually styled and proportioned their guns. Really revealing when you “see” it for the first time.
Cheers, Sirhr
Ed Parry has made/restored several guns for me. Ex Navy guy who taught himself the skills. Brilliant maker in Connecticut. And a super fun guy.
Here is another video worth the watch. If you thought longrifle makers were just sort of hacking things out of wood and making them pretty… this delves into how they actually styled and proportioned their guns. Really revealing when you “see” it for the first time.
Cheers, Sirhr
Files, stones, chalk, and oil. I've done so much hand fitting of parts for so long I need to re-teach myself how to run my mill
There's something about hand fitting everything "just right". It may be less accurate than machined, but the "love" is in there.
Actually it is as accurate or more accurate.Files, stones, chalk, and oil. I've done so much hand fitting of parts for so long I need to re-teach myself how to run my mill
There's something about hand fitting everything "just right". It may be less accurate than machined, but the "love" is in there.
It is less repeatable. A good man with a file can work easily to tenths. It just takes longer to make identical parts!
Accuracy vs repeatability is the core word. Files and stones and lapping are incredible levels of accurate. Just don’t ask me to do it twice!
Sirhr
Love how one of the narrators sounds like Rod Serling.
Might surprise a few:
"Narration spoken by David Brinkley and William Devane"
Thank you,
MrSmith
Look up Hershel House the craft is alive and well.
I now know that I have been given a dirty look by a legend. Back in the 90’s I was stationed at Yorktown and me and a few guys used to ride our mountain bikes around the lake next to William and Mary. After we were completely covered in mud we would cruise across the Ivy League campus then through Colonial Williamsburg. We gave visitors and staff a wide enough berth that we didn’t get mud on any of them but most of the tourists and ALL of the staff gave us some hateful glares. 
Back in the 90’s I was stationed at Yorktown and me and a few guys used to ride our mountain bikes around the lake next to William and Mary. After we were completely covered in mud we would cruise across the Ivy League campus then through Colonial Williamsburg. We gave visitors and staff a wide enough berth that we didn’t get mud on any of them but most of the tourists and ALL of the staff gave us some hateful glares. 
