Elementary Gunsmithing

A beginner’s guide to the ins and outs of guncraftsmanship from a professional gunsmith.

When it was first published in 1938, Elementary Gunsmithing was one of the few books of the time to address an amateur audience, among more advanced titles. With clear, engaging, and instructional prose, Frazer takes beginner firearm interest to the next level by talking the reader through the fundamentals of gunsmithing, such as what tools are necessary for the craft, how to solder and mount parts, and even how to conduct a fledgling gunsmithing business. He specifically addresses the “young man who likes working at the bench,” and similarly the book reflects the spirit of innovation, resourcefulness, and do-it-yourself work.

While the book may not cover contemporary firearms, it offers a grandfatherly, old-school instructional vibe with accurate information about guns up to the 1940s. Frazer focuses on gunsmithing with ordinary hand tools at the work bench, rather than complicated machinery. These helpful tips and information, which are still applicable today, make Elementary Gunsmithing a useful, classic, and historically significant reference for both amateurs and budding gunsmithers keen on building a full-time business.

Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for hunters and firearms enthusiasts. We publish books about shotguns, rifles, handguns, target shooting, gun collecting, self-defense, archery, ammunition, knives, gunsmithing, gun repair, and wilderness survival. We publish books on deer hunting, big game hunting, small game hunting, wing shooting, turkey hunting, deer stands, duck blinds, bowhunting, wing shooting, hunting dogs, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.