Well smithys, or would that be smithies?, St. Nick requires some professional help.
I'm looking to be able to do a tune-up on revolvers. Most will, but some won't be S&W.
Cylinder and Yoke bearings/cylinder stops/hands/trigger spring/return spring/mainspring(What, am I workin' on a watch?) and whatever little spring/safety block/IL-@ the time I don't see a need to concern myself w/swapping barrels.
The top price I can spend for start-up is 250-$300, evah so roughly w/some leeway if needed. It appears that a lot of sidearms out there(The ones I end up owning) need some fine tuning/HELP. I've seen some kind of kit from Brownells that runs around 300 clams which is good and fine, howeveah what tools would ya'll start out with if you knew now what you didn't know then? I don't own a mic except for a vintage, mechanical readout for the dial reading impaired. Not a dial caliper either, yet I do use an old Sears vernier caliber that's graduated in 32's w/4-5 marks that when read correctly translate into 128s" or some where close. I guess I should snag a dial caliper or a small micrometer, or both. I have feeler gauges and worked w/hand and power tools in several capacities over the years. I'm not a complete putz though I'm sure others would gladly argue that point.
The S&W Revolver: A Shop Manual-Kuhnhausen-22.95-I know I need this book.
What would be a good 1900 and up/20th Century, one size sorta covers all revolver brands book? I will spend more money on books. There's no sense in scrimping on reference material.
Do they make a half-moon punch set for removing pins from older wheelguns?
Survey sez: CUP TIP PUNCHES- 17.68 Each! Yikees... How many different sizes do I need?
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.as...=CUP%20TIP%20PUNCHES
Extractor Pin removal tool-Do they come in different grades
I can't find them, but I have 3 different screwdriver sets from Brownells saved somewhere. Two were nut driver type w/one having a shorter handle and the last was hollow ground set of individual screwdrivers.
I know there's going to be other tools for other jobs, so one more time, what would be on your list knowing now what you didn't know then?
Last, but not least I realize being able to do this is not going to make me a Gunsmith. I imagine I should've started before I turned 50. Howevah, that shouldn't prevent me from upgrading/tightening up a few well used wheelguns.
Thanks guys for any & all ideas...