• 1941 The Modern Gunsmith (by James Virgil Howe)

    The Modern Gunsmith
    by James Virgil Howe
    Format: Volume 1 - 393 pages/Volume 2 - 458 pages
    Published 1941 by Funk & Wagnalls, New York

    Note: After you click on images to ENLARGE them, you may find they automatically size smaller in your browser's window making them harder to view. The auto sizing is your browser's way of keeping images entirely within the screen size you have set. Move your mouse pointer to the bottom center of the pic and you will see an options panel appear. There will be a small square box next to the large X, which will have a pointer arrow sticking out of it. If it's illuminated, it means the pic you're viewing can be enlarged, so click on this box and the pic will EXPAND and open to its normal size. Low quality pics shown below are for illustrative purposes only and the quality of the images and text within the content of the PDF file download are much greater.

    (Click PIC to Enlarge)(Click PIC to Enlarge)

    (Click PIC to Enlarge)(Click PIC to Enlarge)

    The Modern Gunsmith (Volume 1) - PDF File Download
    PDF file size= 66.66 Mb



    (Click PIC to read and save Adobe PDF File)
    (Right Click on PIC and choose "Save Target As..." to download PDF file)



    The Modern Gunsmith (Volume 2) - PDF File Download
    PDF file size= 75.76 Mb



    (Click PIC to read and save Adobe PDF File)
    (Right Click on PIC and choose "Save Target As..." to download PDF file)

    Observations: by Badger

    A guide for the amateur and professional gunsmith in the design and construction of firearms, with practical suggestions for all who like guns. James Virgil Howe was formerly in charge of the small arms experimental division at the United States Frankford Arsenal and Griffin & Howe, Inc. of New York City..

    An Amazon customer's feedback …

    "Having read this book thoroughly, I recommend it heartily. Many modern gunsmithing books focus on off-the-shelf parts and aftermarket accesories. Not so Howe's book. From selection of which action to build a rifle around, to diagrams for Double-set triggers, to full instructions on the making of barrells, it is the best modern book available. It was re-printed in 1980, but is now out of print. Combine this book with Ned Roberts' excellent book "The Muzzle-Loading Cap Lock Rifle", and the amateur gunsmith has all the information he requires to equip himself with excellent hunting or target weapons."



    Collector's Comments and Feedback:

    1. As per the Copyright Act, copyright in a work exists for the life of the author/creator, the remainder of the calendar year in which he is deceased, plus fifty years after the end of that calendar year.

    For Crown copyrighted works, there is a slight difference. Section 12 of the Copyright Act stipulates:

    “12. Without prejudice to any rights or privileges of the Crown, where any work is, or has been, prepared or published by or under the direction or control of Her Majesty or any government department, the copyright in the work shall, subject to any agreement with the author, belong to Her Majesty and in that case shall continue for the remainder of the calendar year of the first publication of the work and for a period of fifty years following the end of that calendar year. [S.C. 1993, c. 44, s. 60(1)]”
    ...... (Feedback by "Badger")



    2. The secret to creating and maintaining quality research data in the Milsurps Knowledge Library is you! This is your site and these MKL entries on various old milsurps are yours to add to, or change. The volunteers on the Advisory Panel (click here) can only do so much to vet and validate the information posted here, so please contribute as much as possible to help us present the most accurate and reliable data we can gather on these old milsurps. If you own a particular specimen of any MKL entry, then please send us pics of it, even though they may be duplicate views of pieces you already see here. In that way, we can build up multiple sets of pics for several milsurps of the same model, which will help in indentifying markings and authenticity. ALL pics and information received will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and respect of your privacy. Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far, which is helping to make the Milsurps Collectors Forums a prominent site for serious collectors of all genres of old milsurp collectibles. ....... (Feedback by "Badger")
BDL Ltd.