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4 members (bushveld, j7l2, SKB, 1 invisible),
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Forums10
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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 671 Likes: 57
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 671 Likes: 57 |
I read where old time gunmakers made their own tools. How were files made?
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 34
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 34 |
Go on YouTube and watch the videos by a fella that posts as "Clickspring". He shows the chisels made, and in use.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,971 Likes: 103
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,971 Likes: 103 |
Yes, I imagine most trades that used files required the knowledge of how to make the tools. Take a look at this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB58hkncznI
John McCain is my war hero.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,079 Likes: 393
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,079 Likes: 393 |
Last edited by bushveld; 05/29/20 11:31 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12 |
Making a file is not unduly difficult. It does involve some specialized skill, though. A very sharp, specially ground chisel to raise line burrs across the width of the file blank is required. The file blank needs be high carbon plain steel at minimum. Lower grades of steel may be used with case hardening (actually through carborization of the burrs). Depending on the metalurgy of the blank, heat treating can be farily simple to rather complex. This day and age, files are more or less a commodity item. I once observed one of Purdey's workmen profiling a barrel with a hand/purpose made file gifted to him by his gaffer.
DDA
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 948 Likes: 2
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 948 Likes: 2 |
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,344 Likes: 648
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,344 Likes: 648 |
I can’t think of very many gunmakers who learned their craft via apprenticeship, mention file making during their tool making phase (usually the first phase of the process is spending a lot of time in the machine shop and learning tool making, and to get out of that phase, your skills are judged by the master of the machine & toolmaking shop) of the apprenticeship. I talked about this with a friend of mine and he made no mention of ever making files. He did mention that file making was an entirely different animal and there were “specialists” for that....aka file making companies like Nicholson, Stanley, Grobet, Vallorbe, etc.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 671 Likes: 57
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 671 Likes: 57 |
Thanks now I know! Must try that vinegar refreshing method on some of my old rasps.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,308 Likes: 615
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,308 Likes: 615 |
I just viewed some nice pictures of a drop point file. The gentleman who made it told me he had been a gunmaker for years and always struggled to get drop points right on restorations. After working for a top tier London maker he was shown the proper tool for the job. I plan on making a couple in the next week or so. Different from a flat file, no need for a chisel to bump up the teeth, they are filed in. Should be a fun job.
Firearms imports, consignments ![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/Ez9oz9Rl.jpg)
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 911 Likes: 45
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 911 Likes: 45 |
Steve please post some pictures.
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