Customer Reviews

Pistolsmithing

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Owning about 30 books on the subject gunsmithing, this book is not one of the best. It lacks detailed information on several subjects and following the instructions can even damage your weapon (example ref. unscrewing a revolver frame from the barrel with a hammer handle??? This could twist the frame of your revolver, there is a special tool for this, buy or make one!) If you are looking for a good bok on this subject, buy Gunsmithing from Roy Dunlap, the same size, the same publisher but a far more superior book.

This review is for the 2011 printing, although I believe the content is still from 1974.

Obviously it's old content, and a lot of the topics are outdated (like, for example, how to convert a Colt Gov't Model into a Commander, at a time when Colt didn't sell Commander parts as a general rule). But even though parts of the book may be outdated, it's a good read.

Now as to how much of the book I can really use and apply myself, well, not a lot unfortunately. Surprisingly, the author makes it seem like the gunsmith's greatest tool is a welding kit. It was a discouraging book where motivating someone to work on one's own projects is concerned (or even motivating someone to enter the field at all). In that respect the book is very disappointing. However, if nothing else, it'll give you a greater appreciation for the abilities of an ACCOMPLISHED old-school gunsmith.

So even though I personally don't consider the book useful, except for a very few specific items here and there, I'm still giving it four stars just for all the jam-packed information it contains.

This book tells you how pistols function and how to fix problems. Other books I have on the subject show pictures about how the author did something but you quickly realize some important details are not mentioned. THIS BOOK TELLS YOU HOW WITH DETAILS. IT IS GREAT.

Mr. Lockley does a great job of explaining the basics of pistolsmithing. The information is "dated" some with older companies and parts. The pistol world has exploded in the last 20 years with aftermarket parts that are not covered in this book. Was written when gunsmiths were real craftsmen, they made or modified parts instead of just picking some off the internet. A Classic pistolsmithing book for anyone wanting to know about the older methods of repair or modification. I as a pistolsmith for over 30 years I found it well written and informative.