Gunsmith tools

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A number of members have asked over the years as to what tools to use when working on your guns. I've found a manufacturer that supplies such tools, among others. Some of you may already be familiar with them. American made, reasonably priced and recommended by Jay Leno. Take a look.

 
I need my Chapman screwdriver, a few different vices, vice grip pliars, Dremel tool, bronze hammer, diamond files / paste and the spring clamp for the Ruger gate spring. Oh and a few pieces of soft suede.

Anything else I discover that I need I can improvise on.
 
Being a tool nerd, these threads are always of interest. Nobody ever complains about Chapman bits, so the quality is there for sure.

I didn't like that they are proprietary and chose to stick with the more standard Wheeler gun smith set. I am very happy with it.
 
Hmmm. I've got the Grace Ruger set and it works well for me. But I would like a bit-type set. May have to get on of these. I have used a Wheeler set and I wasn't that impressed.
 
I have many sets, as well as many individuals. Some name-brand sets are not so good, and some cheaper tools have been great. I never know what to expect until I actually use the product.

My best screwdrivers are an old Bonanza set. I don't know if Forester took them over, but when I google Bonanza screwdrivers, Forester is what pops up, and they look very similar.
 
I didn't like that they are proprietary and chose to stick with the more standard Wheeler gun smith set. I am very happy with it.

I'm not sure what you mean by proprietary here, they are normal 1/4" bits with extra features (end knurling and ball detents vs magnetic retention). The bits can be purchased outside the set and work with any 1/4" driver with sufficient bit depth.
 
I'm not sure what you mean by proprietary here, they are normal 1/4" bits with extra features (end knurling and ball detents vs magnetic retention). The bits can be purchased outside the set and work with any 1/4" driver with sufficient bit depth.
Good to know.

When I looked into them I was under the impression they only worked with their handles.

Thanks
 
A number of members have asked over the years as to what tools to use when working on your guns. I've found a manufacturer that supplies such tools, among others. Some of you may already be familiar with them. American made, reasonably priced and recommended by Jay Leno. Take a look.

I rely heavily on that little red wrench shown in the kit in conjunction with Wheeler Master driver set. Get a rusted in peened in screw a "big boy" leaning on top of the screwdriver in conjunction with that little wrench usually does the trick or the bit breaks.
 
I also have an old Bonanza set that seems to be the best quality I've seen. I also own Cahapmans. I have had Chapman bits break that were too hard so maybe a bit brittle.
 
Brownell's has the best set with interchangeable bits, and all kinds of extra bits that you can purchase. Have used them for over 55 years. Tried Graces first, very easy to break, same with Chapmans. Went to Brownell's and have never seen a reason to change. Used to grind the Grace tips round after they broke and use them to push out pins where needed.
 
It's interesting how many of the positive comments come reguarding sets that are much older. I remember the best Phillips screwdriver I ever had was an old "Roscoe" from the local Ace hardware bargain bin. That was in the 70's. I'm sure many if not most of the 70's and 80's production tools are fantastic. But new stuff? A lot of it just isn't the same. And the brands don't matter. Craftsman to SnapOn. The new production stuff can't hold a candle to the vintage tools.
 
When I bought my first pistol forty some years ago, I bought a set of "gunsmith screwdrivers" that I didn't need since my Dan Wesson came with a tool. I still have most of that set. Only most because I foolishly lent them to my brother and things often never came back from his home.

I was given a Chapman set as a gift about thirty years ago. Still in use.

I do have a gigantic set of bits that I got from Midway USA. It came with a handle.

In each of my shooting bags, I have a cheap interchangeable bit driver. I found that they work well because the slotted bits are hollow ground and don't slip out of the slot.

I have many extra tools as well: grip screw bushing driver, buffer tube wrench, punches, roll pin punches, mallets, pliers, probes, and so on and so on and scoobie, doobie, do on.

I have too many tools.
 
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