I was apprenticed into this trade in London, working on the very best guns, we preferred blacksmiths leg vices over engineers vices, more room to work around them, we cast our "leads" every week or so and the horse was usually padded with leather . An actioner would have dozens of files and some reground with safe edges, forged into shapes for one particular job, some one would always be nicking your files so you had to keep an eye on them. Metal chiselling was used as well for some parts like the balls ( breach end of the action ) were hand chiselled.
Imagine the incredible firearms that this man has put his hands on. He likely has an encyclopedic knowledge of guns. Fantastic that his experience is being recognized and celebrated.
I'm with you, Brandon. Just about everything he covers as being important is what I use. Much wisdom there. I frequently make or modify my own tools for the job.
20alphabet I think a better mic would have helped. I'm having a hard time understanding what he's saying but it seems mostly a combination of his speech and the mic quality.
Quite true Mike I can understand every word no problem on here, phone or when used to pay us a visit every year.Last of the golden generation, miss his off camera stories and knowledge, surely missed.
Great video! I love the different terms that the British use for their tools. Their names are so simple and descriptive. "Turn Screws". Of course... why didn't we think of that?!?! These two gentlemen are true treasures. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this series. I can't wait to see the next installments.
Gunslinger454 i speak as an englshman and yes we are overrun with muslims along with other immigrants due to our shitty government and the EU and PC but going back to my comment i dont see your government our country as an allie 1st reason during the troubles in northen ireland the us gov along with (most) american people funded the ira to kill not only our soldiers but innocent people across GB and NI 2nd if you look back at your history i dont think back when the decleration was signed i dont think they would of thought that we were best buddies also i dont think most americans now a days would share the same feeling as other of my country men and women do
Gunslinger454 America's perceived ambivalence on the troubles in NI certainly left a bitter taste in a lot of peoples mouths...I remember as a kid a popular rumor was the change people put in those boxes on the counter at McDonald's went straight to fund the IRA... Certainly was no big secret where the Provos where getting their beloved AR-18's from... Although by the 1980's the Americans started seriously cracking down on the weapons smuggling rings operating over there hence why the IRA switched to dealing with Gaddafi ect instead. Then by the 90's US government was really putting on the pressure to get them to the negotiating table which was a massive compromise for Irish Republican.
Love hearing from these old guys... Too ALL young fellas into shooting, if there is a old shooter at the range, if he gives you any advice or hints.. Listen to every word, absorb everything they have to offer! If you have any questions, ask them! They are always more then happy to teach young people their wealth of infomation!
Mr. Rowe is a little hard to understand at times but way worth it. Thanks to Larry for documenting this and doing his part to keep gunsmithing from becoming a lost art.
Fantastic video Larry! Love seeing the old tools and the information provided is top notch. Thanks again. Loving the old guns and the true craftsmen who produced them.
Nice to see this old Brummie master gunsmith talking about his craft. Birmingham was, in its day, the small arms centre of Europe... no doubt the Germans would disagree... but hey, who won the fucking war! These old craftsmen were not especially articulate - my own talented granddad was a man of very few words - they were more comfortable showing you how rather than explaining why. An apprentice would acquire knowledge and skill by watching a master at work... and maybe asking a few questions now and then.
Does anyone know what kind of brace Jack has at 9:30 in the video? It looks rather unique and doesn't appear to have a chuck like an American bit brace such as a Stanley.
Well, I found that it is a style of brace called a Scottish or Scotch Brace, of which there are many varieties. They can be had on eBay for cheap, although they only accept the square cross-sectioned pyramidal shanks of old auger bits, but they can be modified with a plug or adapter to take modern 1/4" hex bits. I also found a beautiful English hand vise from a respected but long defunct manufacturer on eBay that is in almost new condition.
I have a German ww2 side by side shotgun i bought, beautiful gun but needed work inside. I had to take my modern screw drivers. and file them down and make the points to fit those old flat tip screws better, so i dont damage them
im sorry but i am an engineer yhat has lived and wotked in britain all mu lufe, u kniw quite a few gun smiyhs and a hell of a lot of shooters, and not once have i ever heard anyone call a screwdriver a turn screw.
Well my friend, you may be an engineer, but you are not a proper gunsmith. Turnscrews and pins are terms that have always been used in the gun trade. Jack is a genuine time served Brummie gunsmith with the accent and attitude to match.
those having difficulty understanding him, it's not the mic, it's not even his age, it's the bloody Brummie accent. A strange and perplexing vocal style, even to Brits
Mike Tongue very sad to hear that. Glad he was able to share some of his knowledge so recently. Unfortunately he wouldn't have recognised Birmingham now. He looked in his element in this video, glad to see it.
Last time he came over think was 2009 or 2010 paying the Brum trade its annual visit.Knew he was bad in 2012, two years before this video, I have no regrets not setting up in Oklahoma.
I was apprenticed into this trade in London, working on the very best guns, we preferred blacksmiths leg vices over engineers vices, more room to work around them, we cast our "leads" every week or so and the horse was usually padded with leather . An actioner would have dozens of files and some reground with safe edges, forged into shapes for one particular job, some one would always be nicking your files so you had to keep an eye on them. Metal chiselling was used as well for some parts like the balls ( breach end of the action ) were hand chiselled.
Imagine the incredible firearms that this man has put his hands on. He likely has an encyclopedic knowledge of guns. Fantastic that his experience is being recognized and celebrated.
I could listen to Jack talk about gunsmithing for hours
Not me. Trying to listen to him speak is like trying to pedal a bicycle uphill with two flat tires.
I'm with you, Brandon. Just about everything he covers as being important is what I use. Much wisdom there. I frequently make or modify my own tools for the job.
20alphabet I think a better mic would have helped. I'm having a hard time understanding what he's saying but it seems mostly a combination of his speech and the mic quality.
Jack was suffering from Parkinson's Disease at the time this was filmed. So no pint taking the piss. He is great to listen too.
Quite true Mike I can understand every word no problem on here, phone or when used to pay us a visit every year.Last of the golden generation, miss his off camera stories and knowledge, surely missed.
Great video! I love the different terms that the British use for their tools. Their names are so simple and descriptive. "Turn Screws". Of course... why didn't we think of that?!?! These two gentlemen are true treasures. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this series. I can't wait to see the next installments.
We did think of it! We just didn't like it, too British. We weren't always allies you know!
Gunslinger454 we still aint you know
Gunslinger454 i speak as an englshman and yes we are overrun with muslims along with other immigrants due to our shitty government and the EU and PC but going back to my comment i dont see your government our country as an allie 1st reason during the troubles in northen ireland the us gov along with (most) american people funded the ira to kill not only our soldiers but innocent people across GB and NI 2nd if you look back at your history i dont think back when the decleration was signed i dont think they would of thought that we were best buddies also i dont think most americans now a days would share the same feeling as other of my country men and women do
***** You may not see us as allies, but pretty much everyone else does including both of our governments, however shitty they may be at the moment.
Gunslinger454 America's perceived ambivalence on the troubles in NI certainly left a bitter taste in a lot of peoples mouths...I remember as a kid a popular rumor was the change people put in those boxes on the counter at McDonald's went straight to fund the IRA...
Certainly was no big secret where the Provos where getting their beloved AR-18's from...
Although by the 1980's the Americans started seriously cracking down on the weapons smuggling rings operating over there hence why the IRA switched to dealing with Gaddafi ect instead.
Then by the 90's US government was really putting on the pressure to get them to the negotiating table which was a massive compromise for Irish Republican.
Love hearing from these old guys... Too ALL young fellas into shooting, if there is a old shooter at the range, if he gives you any advice or hints.. Listen to every word, absorb everything they have to offer! If you have any questions, ask them! They are always more then happy to teach young people their wealth of infomation!
Really enjoy listening to the old folks.
Anyone who has special tools to work on Purdey shotguns is someone you should listen too
All my tools are for Purdeys since I worked there for 30 years 😂
Mr. Rowe is a little hard to understand at times but way worth it.
Thanks to Larry for documenting this and doing his part to keep gunsmithing from becoming a lost art.
that's a great thing to do ! sharing the knowledge like this.
i'm looking forward for more videos.
Thank's larry and thank's jack
I love talking to old fellas like Jack.
Endless knowledge.
What a treasure of information about finely made side by sides in the English style! Thank you Jack and Larry!!!!
An absolutely delightful gentleman with lots of great and tested advice. Thanks for the video.
Fantastic video Larry! Love seeing the old tools and the information provided is top notch.
Thanks again. Loving the old guns and the true craftsmen who produced them.
I love listening to the gentelman's experience and would listen to them talk all day.
Thank you for presenting this series. As a long time fan of Mr. Rowe, I am excited to see this.
nothing worse than buggered screws from using the wrong turn screw ;)
Excellent series of videos
The amount of knowledge in gunsmithing and guns by these two alone is staggering. Literal walking bookshelves of experience.
True trade, shirt and tie at his bench. Crying shame the skills he holds are dying to mass production. God bless you jack true gentleman
Absolutely priceless.... thank you Larry and Jack!
This man needs his own youtube channel :-)
Jack Rowe passed away in 2016.
Great video! and very nice of Jack Rowe to share his lifelong knowledge of gunsmithing...very informative!
A wealth of knowledge and experience.
Excellent video, you can see Larry enjoying this!
He's probably forgotten more then most of us know, good video
Nice to see this old Brummie master gunsmith talking about his craft. Birmingham was, in its day, the small arms centre of Europe... no doubt the Germans would disagree... but hey, who won the fucking war! These old craftsmen were not especially articulate - my own talented granddad was a man of very few words - they were more comfortable showing you how rather than explaining why. An apprentice would acquire knowledge and skill by watching a master at work... and maybe asking a few questions now and then.
Wow, a lot of knowledge in that old man. Great resource for sure.
Thanks for the video!!
Reminds me of the craftsman who taught me my trade, all hand made tools which were presented to me on his retirement
Thank you for a very informative video. looking forward to more.
I am now convinced I need a hand vise.
Great video cant wait to see the project.
a lot of knowledge at that table.
Does anyone know what kind of brace Jack has at 9:30 in the video? It looks rather unique and doesn't appear to have a chuck like an American bit brace such as a Stanley.
Well, I found that it is a style of brace called a Scottish or Scotch Brace, of which there are many varieties. They can be had on eBay for cheap, although they only accept the square cross-sectioned pyramidal shanks of old auger bits, but they can be modified with a plug or adapter to take modern 1/4" hex bits. I also found a beautiful English hand vise from a respected but long defunct manufacturer on eBay that is in almost new condition.
thanks Larry
A true Master at his craft 👍
At 5:20 is he describing how to pit the gun back on face? I don't really understand what he is saying.
That was great im excited to learn more.
great video what a wealth of information
Can one even imagin what´s possible to do in the workshop with the knowledge of this two gentlemens?
I can't wait to see more!
I have a German ww2 side by side shotgun i bought, beautiful gun but needed work inside. I had to take my modern screw drivers. and file them down and make the points to fit those old flat tip screws better, so i dont damage them
between these two men I bet they have forgotten more than most of us will ever know
Outstanding! Semper Fi
I was hoping when jack was asked what he uses a hack saw for gun smithing, he was going to say "to saw the barrels off"
sung ban dan hao cai viet nam
When Larry reaches the age of this gentleman he'll still be sharp as a tack.
excellent video !
Great video!
plz mak one video on eibar gun side by side convert non ejector to ejector.
Rest in peace, John "Jack" Rowe.
My Mom's Dad had Parkinson's. Wish we knew more about that disease. Dad's Mom's 2nd husband had it as well. Both Navy men.
I can't get over how old he is.
i have a rifle and its do not eject some of the rounds can you help me?
So if I get this correctly.. the Brits call a screwdriver a 'turnscrew', as it's used to to turn screws - which they call pins. Makes sense.
Master gun Smith 💪
IN WATCHING ALL THE VIDEOS , IT LOOKS LIKE MR. ROWE'S SCREWDRIVERS " TURN SCREWS" ARE WEDGE SHAPED TIPS ( LIKE WATCH MAKERS ) & NOT HOLLOW GROUND ??
What would Jack think of using a dremnel!
You were having too much fun Larry.
Thank you !!!!!
Good stuff.
im sorry but i am an engineer yhat has lived and wotked in britain all mu lufe, u kniw quite a few gun smiyhs and a hell of a lot of shooters, and not once have i ever heard anyone call a screwdriver a turn screw.
Well my friend, you may be an engineer, but you are not a proper gunsmith. Turnscrews and pins are terms that have always been used in the gun trade. Jack is a genuine time served Brummie gunsmith with the accent and attitude to match.
Very cool.
It is hard to fathom how much knowledge will be lost when Jack is gone.
A masterclass
those having difficulty understanding him, it's not the mic, it's not even his age, it's the bloody Brummie accent. A strange and perplexing vocal style, even to Brits
and the fact he was suffering badly with Parkinson's Disease when these where made. He dies shortly after this was made. True gent Jack.
Mike Tongue very sad to hear that. Glad he was able to share some of his knowledge so recently. Unfortunately he wouldn't have recognised Birmingham now. He looked in his element in this video, glad to see it.
Last time he came over think was 2009 or 2010 paying the Brum trade its annual visit.Knew he was bad in 2012, two years before this video, I have no regrets not setting up in Oklahoma.
I would give up my ability to reproduce for half of the gun knowledge and skill sitting at that bench.
Almost nothing makes a firearm look more poorly than buggerd pin groves.
Just goes to show you that there's English, and then there's...well...English!