Customer Reviews

Gunsmith of Williamsburg [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
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This is not just an interesting movie about a handcraft - this is the documentation of the building of an American longrifle, completely by hand. Every piece, from the barrel to the smallest screw, was made completely by hand, using only 18th century tooling, and only natural and candle light, in a recreated 18th century shop. Wallace Gusler was master of the gunshop at Colonial Williamsburg when this was filmed, and he and Gary Brumfield rescued the craft processes of the handmade rifle from extinction. Noone still alive (to their knowledge) had forged a rifle barrel by hand when they started this process. To go from basically a blank slate to the restoration of virtually an entire craft culture in a few short years is an absolutely astonishing achievement, and this film forever pays tribute to that work. Made in 1969, this is the single highest selling video tape Colonial Williamsburg ever produced, and has become part of the fabric of many areas of modern life including blacksmithing, engineering, woodworking, museum science, and of course traditional gunsmithing.

Highly, highly recommended.

If you are a student of period firearms, or a modern day builder of muzzle-loaders, this is the tape for you. Wallace Gusler takes you step-by-step through building each part of a typical American rifle-gun. From forging and rifling the barrel, to making the lock, casting brass and making the stock. All done in documented 18th century manner with period tools, this is a classic.

this film is full of explanations and demonstrations on how early american muzzle loading rifles were built. the main charater actually builds a muzzle loading by hand with period tools and machinery explaining every step. END

I really doubt this video can be oversold.

This is probably the best video ever made of the actual manufacturing process of early colonial gunmaking. From the start, it's obvious that it's every bit an art as a science. I won't waste time going over the details, but I will mention that every part used in early rifles is not only discussed, but Mr. Gusler shows how it's made.

My only complaint is the movie was sold on VHS, and I only have one copy. I transferred it to DVD archive to preserve the tape. Despite the obvious market for this video on disk, I'm not aware of Colonial Williamsburg releasing this on DVD.

Recommendation: if it's playable, buy it when you find it, and without any hesitation. You can *always* re-sell it.