INTRODUCTION
When I first interested in how barrels were made, I was a full time gunsmith in Bucklin, Kansas. I was
doing a lot of barrel work, such as chambering and fitting actions.
I started to research the subject in all the different books that I could find. One thing that I found out very
fast was that there was not any information on the process of button rifling.
This was in 1956, and all the available information was on cut, or broach rifling. I started to experiment
and about 1-1/2 years later, I was able to come up with a fairly decent barrel.
I had been manufacturing all types of barrels for a few years, and had been keeping notes on all the
different processes and information that I used. I kept thinking that if this information is not passed along
to others, it might soon be lost.
In 1962 I gathered all my notes and started putting together a manual on barrel making. I included every
process that I used in the shop. At the time, I had a very good business making barrels in Bucklin,
Kansas.
My main idea in writing this book is to give the readers an idea how gun barrels are made. This book
may seem to be a little vague at time, but once the reader starts making the barrel, etc. it all falls in
place.
If the reader follows the instructions, a first class barrel can be made that will compete with the best. I
have many readers tell me it sounded to simple. Well making barrels is a simple process, much simpler
than other barrel makers would like it to be Known.