Today’s Q&A is sponsored by Kyrö – get 10% off all their spirits with code FORGOTTENGIN10 at:
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0:02:41 – Could the US scale up small arms production to wartime mass levels?
0:08:57 – How were wood gunstocks made?
0:13:36 – Barrel attachment; alternatives to threading?
0:15:50 – Decline in gunsmiths and gunsmithing
0:20:34 – What would emergency small arms look like today?
Video – “Last Ditch” M16: https://youtu.be/1SDL4n8yUe8
Video – Croatian Crogar M91: https://youtu.be/Ruif6Qym3zw
Video – Croatian Vila Velabita: https://youtu.be/vLOwArnKWV8
Video – Croatian Sokac: https://youtu.be/d82b4xb6bAA
0:23:36 – Lost manufacturing methods
0:25:19 – Metallurgy and alloys in gunmaking
0:29:31 – Manufacturing tolerances
0:41:54 – Simplification of designs
0:44:18 – Why don’t we have stamped guns today?
0:46:49 – Venezuelan AK-100s in the US?
0:48:58 – Home-scale metal 3D printers?
0:50:43 – 3D printing applications besides suppressors?
0:54:17 – AI and 3D printing for reproduction guns?
0:56:46 – Books about the gunmaking business
0:57:37 – What if Stoner didn’t get into guns?
0:59:37 – Ammunition production quality
1:05:46 – Do I have my own gun design I want to make?
1:06:46 – Historical metallurgy in gun manufacture
Book – “Fighting Iron”: https://amzn.to/3Z89Fsk
1:09:04 – Why are magazines so hard to make?
1:14:47 – Advice for new reproduction gunmakers
1:19:47 – Pros and cons of different manufacturing methods
‘Why are magazines hard to make?’ During the Malayan Emergency in 1948, American tin miners asked the Malayan Police if they could lend them guns to protect themselves, as the mines were in remote locations. The Police said they had hundreds of M1 Carbines but, due to a logistical error, they only had one magazine! The chief engineer asked for the magazine and said they would swap 10 machine shop-made magazines for 1 carbine. This was done and not only did the miners prevent any further attacks on the mines, they also supplied the Malayan Police with magazines to equip their personnel. Any M1 Carbines seen in period photos are equipped with ‘home made’ magazines, which apparently worked well.