THR Contributers ROCK!

[bigjim]

Being a 100% out of control gun nut locked in a chronic battle to the death with a life altering affliction known as G.A.S. ( Gun acquisition syndrome),
I find my self short of cash and needing to tweak and fix things myself.

I go to other forums that are specific to the gun in question and NEVER get as good and as useful information as I do here in this Generic Gun smithing forum.

Not sure why. I think personalities have something to do with it. There are some posters here that have been run off other boards that are a treasure.

I just don't know what I would do with out THR...Tunner, fuff and many many others.... This list goes on.

I wonder sometimes if you guys know just how many lives you are touching and how much joy you bring to people that are discovering for the first time that they can fix it themselves!!!

We gunnie types pride ourselves on rugged individualism and self reliance. Yet many of us will run to the gunsmith with a loose grip screw bushing.

There is a quote from a RH book about things a human being should be able to do and that specialization is for bugs. I agree but I was not taught as a child many of the things I need to know. Parents are caught up in the rat race of trying to pay for a 750,000 dollar home and a BMW and neglect to teach their children how to use a screw driver and pound a nail. I am 42 and I think my generation was the first to value a new TV over a new tool.

Keep up the fight guys. Make no mistake this is not just a Internet forum it's part of a holy war against a culture shift that is not in the best interest of mankind.

 

[1911Tuner]

Rockin'!

Mighty fine words there, bigjim, and we appreciate it more than ya know.

I've described what I do as a "Love of the Breed" type thing. What I
see a lot of on these boards is some workin' stiff who did without lunch for 3 or 4 months to be able to buy a Colt or Springfield, and find out that it's got issues. The guy can't afford a gunsmith without sacrificing his lunch for
another month...and I get a charge out of helping him solve his own
problem for peanuts and a little time at the kitchen table. I tell ya, it
makes my day to see a reply that says: "It worked!! The pistol runs great now!" I'm sure that's also a big part of why Jim Keenan and my PAL
(who wants to keep all the pre-70 Smith & Wesson revolvers for himself) OLD FUFF... do what they do here as well.

I've been flamed a few times by my insistence that: "It's usually somethin' simple. You don't need to spend 200 bucks to have the gun fixed." But to those folks I say....

Cheers!

Tuner

 

[Dave Sample]

I am not a welcome contributer here and I know it. But no one on these forums believes in "Do It Your Self " than me. Tuner shares freely of the information he has at hand and I think he is neat for doing that. On the other hand, I have a shop with $10,000.00 worth of mostly specialized hand tools that I used when I was in the 1911 business. The big problem that I see is that I have no idea what someone can or cannot do to fix their gun. The implication on these forums is that every other 1911 owner is a Pistolsmith and I do not think that is true. One thing Tuner and I have in common is that we speak from our own personal experience and are not repeating stuff we read about on forums. I like to think that he and I are pals, in a weird sort of way! I know that I like him and enjoy some of his posts. He does his thing, and I am a "has been". But that to me is better than being a" never was!"

 

[HSMITH]

Dave, I have shot one of the guns you built for a buddy in FL. As I recall it was done with a short (relative for custom guns) turnaround, was superbly fitted and ran like a swiss watch when you sent it back. To me it was not something a 'has-been' could have ever done, it was OUTSTANDING in every regard. I also think that the vast majority of us greatly appreciate having a known 1911 smith (you, and others) that will take the time to answer questions and take the time to help. Having guys like you and Dave Berryhill and some of the other TOP end gunsmiths show up and take the time to help the everyday guy speaks volumes about our hobby and the people in it. You don't find it in any other interest I am involved in, that's for sure.

Don't think your involvement is not appreciated.

 

[yankytrash]

Yes, I do like banging on intricate chunks of metal with big heavy hammers, why do you ask?

 

[duckfoot]

Mr Sample

I read everyone of your posts and believe that everyone that looks at a problem from a different angle has valid input. In the computer business, I find that someone telling you what the problem is and what the problem really is, rarely are the same. It's the same here, and especially when it concerns 1911 style pistols, because they are easy to work on and come in so many flavors.

But we kitchen table tinkers do have our limits and have to know our limits (less one of our little jobs goes full auto out at the range one day). Not all of us have a machinist background, or know metallurgy, but are good with our hands and can use hand tools to good effect. Plus most of us have only access to tools from the local hardware store and parts from Brownells. Then some of us tinkers, will try to fix our pistol anyway, without help, and boards like this stop us from making very big mistakes.

Since we share information here, everyone’s input is welcomed, because in the end that member that has the problem is the one going to either fix it or send it to a gunsmith with their hard earned cash along with it.

Now, I know that you and Mr. Travis have been at odds for while, and take subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) pokes at each other quite a bit here and on other forms, and to me that’s okay. Because when ever there is a exchange of information we exhange part of ourselves too. But in the end isn’t this a place about sharing what we know, and helping a fellow shooter with a problem. To that goal, I think we do a good job, with everyone’s help.

Many thanks to you all!

Duck

 

[1911Tuner]

re: Pals

Dagnabbit Cap'n...You're like my grandpappy was. Ornery, contrary old
cuss. Just about the time we was at the point of stranglin' him, he'd do somethin' that'd make ya wanna kiss him.:banghead:

Truce, pal.

Tunerfish

 

[Dave Sample]

Tuner; You know that I have always liked you. We come from different places and I am not known for my humility and tact, but both of us know some stuff and like to share. No need for a truce because we have never gone to war. This can be a fun and informative place if I can get around the moderators who worship PC more than the truth. I have to finish two guns in the prep stage and ship five completed PATRIOTS today so I will be back later, Maybe? I also have 4 six shooters here to tune this week so being retired is a busy deal for me. Three are free and one is for the money so it will go to the bench first. Hang in there and we are pals to the end regardless of differing opinions and language. We relieve the boredom for these neat folks on forums. And we may help them from time to time. Keep up the good work! I wish you sunny days on easy trails with plenty of water for the rest of your ride! De Captain

 

[1911Tuner]

Different Worlds

Happy Trails, Cap'n.

I was kiddin' about kissin' ya though...

 

[Old Fuff]

Tuner;

I was being unusually generous when I offered you the opportunity to keep SOME of the pos-1970 S&W revolvers. I am not TOTALLY greedy, just MOSTLY so. I would be willing to negotiate and let you have those pieces that had less the 20% of their original finish, SLIGHTLY bent yokes and perhaps a LITTLE "roughness" in the chambers and bore.

I am after all kind to my friends ...

 

[1911Tuner]

20% Off

Fuff...I'm touched. I had no idea that ya had so much of the milk of human
kindness. Just for that, I might let ya SEE my 95% Smith & Wesson .44
Special...(Nickel, no less)that my uncle carried when he was a cop in Coeburn, Virginia...in 1948!!!!

I just MIGHT let ya see my 5-inch Smith & Wesson .N-frame .357 Magnum
that was built before I needed a shave. BWAAAAHAHAHAAAAA!!!

I juuust might let ya see my Smith & Wesson top-breaks...in .38 S&W
and their li'l nickeled, 32 caliber brother!!!

I ain't gonna even mess with ya over the others...



Tuner

 

[Old Fuff]

Tuner:

How could you!!! Those are all pre-1970 revolvers that you have no right to keep. DELIVER THEM TO ME AT ONCE!!!

A 1948 period .44 nickeled Hand Ejector in nickel .... 95 percent too ...

I'm going to put something strong in the coffee ... Have to blot out the image ... (sob).

 

[1911Tuner]

1948

A 1948 period .44 nickeled Hand Ejector in nickel .... 95 percent too ...

No no no no...I said he was a cop in 1948...Bein' that he was a po' boy, he bought his revolver for 50 bucks from a friend's widow (Killed in the Solomons)...unfired! Mighta been shot 100 times.

I know this is gonna keep ya awake nights Fuff...