GunLab (KnownHost) » Friends of Gun Lab https://gunlab.net Adventures in gun building! Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:06:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.41 Another weekend and always to much to do https://gunlab.net/another-weekend-and-always-to-much-to-do/ https://gunlab.net/another-weekend-and-always-to-much-to-do/#comments Mon, 18 Nov 2019 08:00:13 +0000 http://gunlab.net/?p=8415 The majority of this weekend was set aside to getting ready for the SAR show. New gun racks have been built and set up, the 22 room has had the moveable book cases moved to the library, a storage rack is being built for my gunsmithing area and prep work was accomplished for work on [...]]]> The majority of this weekend was set aside to getting ready for the SAR show. New gun racks have been built and set up, the 22 room has had the moveable book cases moved to the library, a storage rack is being built for my gunsmithing area and prep work was accomplished for work on the cannon and some serious iron work. most of the pictures were taken after normal work hours here at gun lab, actually the workers were threatening to riot.

First is the racks for the boy’s rifles. There will be another one hung up next weekend.

IMG_2841sThen I started on a gun rack in my shop for project guns.

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IMG_2852sThis is to store the general gunsmithing projects that I need to complete.

IMG_2854sA friend of gun lab is helping me with some iron work for a new addition. There was a lot of prepping being done as next weekend I have a fork lift coming coming in. A great deal of lifting and rigging equipment has been per-positioned for the upcoming task.

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IMG_2849sAll of it is heavy.

]]> https://gunlab.net/another-weekend-and-always-to-much-to-do/feed/ 2 The passing of Estes Adams https://gunlab.net/the-passing-of-estes-adams/ https://gunlab.net/the-passing-of-estes-adams/#comments Mon, 19 Aug 2019 13:42:31 +0000 http://gunlab.net/?p=8350 Again I have some sad news to post. Estes Adams has passed away on June 20th. He was only 69 and apparently he had a heart attack . I only had an opportunity to meet him once but I did chat with him regularly both by email and phone. He was a fountain of information [...]]]> Again I have some sad news to post. Estes Adams has passed away on June 20th. He was only 69 and apparently he had  a heart attack . I only had an opportunity to meet him once but I did chat with him regularly both by email and phone. He was a fountain of information and very giving with providing help in some of our projects. He will be missed.

]]> https://gunlab.net/the-passing-of-estes-adams/feed/ 3 Testing No 7 https://gunlab.net/testing-no-7/ https://gunlab.net/testing-no-7/#comments Wed, 05 Jun 2019 08:00:26 +0000 http://gunlab.net/?p=8303 In the last post the high speed video was of the first generation VG1-5 that was built a number of years ago by John. What we here at Gun Lab did was start and finished the first 5 VG1-5 rifles. The remaining weapons are currently being built but the first 5 are going through very [...]]]> In the last post the high speed video was of the first generation VG1-5 that was built a number of years ago by John. What we here at Gun Lab did was start and finished the first 5 VG1-5 rifles. The remaining weapons are currently being built but the first 5 are going through very serious testing. The rifle in this video is number 7.

Enjoy the video.

 

Again my thanks goes out to Axel and Carl and Ian from Forgotten weapons. There help in this phase of testing and the use of Ian’s high speed camera was a great deal of help.

]]> https://gunlab.net/testing-no-7/feed/ 1 More Testing of the VG1-5 https://gunlab.net/more-testing-of-the-vg1-5/ https://gunlab.net/more-testing-of-the-vg1-5/#comments Mon, 03 Jun 2019 08:00:22 +0000 http://gunlab.net/?p=8294 Sunday Axel and I got together with Ian and Carl from Forgotten Weapons to do some high speed photographing of the VG1-5. The information that was obtained holds a number of clues to re-occurring issues that have come up. For the next week or so I will be posting high speed and standard videos of [...]]]> Sunday Axel and I got together with Ian and Carl from Forgotten Weapons to do some high speed photographing of the VG1-5. The information that was obtained holds a number of clues to re-occurring issues that have come up. For the next week or so I will be posting high speed and standard videos of all the VG1-5’s, the 05, 06 and stg45 rifles.

Here are a couple of pictures of the rifles tested. The first is the VG1-5’s

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The second is of the 05, 06 and stg45.

IMG_9636sThis was a very useful day at the range. My thanks go out to Axel, Carl and Ian for all the help they provided in the testing.

The first video in the series. This one is on the VG1-5 first prototype rifle that was made years ago by John. This rifle has had more rounds put through it then can be counted. These include reloads,WW2 German steel case, Czech post war steel case and all the different types of factory ammo that was made.

]]> https://gunlab.net/more-testing-of-the-vg1-5/feed/ 13 The loss of another great guy https://gunlab.net/the-loss-of-another-great-guy-2/ https://gunlab.net/the-loss-of-another-great-guy-2/#comments Sat, 01 Jun 2019 01:30:47 +0000 http://gunlab.net/?p=8292 For any of you that have been around awhile or have not been on the far side of the moon you would know of Don Bell at Omega. The sad news is that he passed away last night.

I have been to his place to many times to count and he was always a generous [...]]]> For any of you that have been around awhile or have not been on the far side of the moon you would know of Don Bell at Omega. The sad news is that he passed away last night.

I have been to his place to many times to count and he was always a generous and friendly friend to me. I will miss him and visiting his shop.

R.I.P. you will be missed.

]]> https://gunlab.net/the-loss-of-another-great-guy-2/feed/ 8 Needed update to the Gun Lab shop https://gunlab.net/needed-update-to-the-gun-lab-shop/ https://gunlab.net/needed-update-to-the-gun-lab-shop/#comments Mon, 06 May 2019 08:00:27 +0000 http://gunlab.net/?p=8275 A while back a friend of gun lab brought over a new press. It will really help with some of the pressings that we have coming up, however it is a 7 1/2 HP 3 phase motor.

 

I have nothing in the fab shop that can handle that power requirement. My phase [...]]]> A while back a friend of gun lab brought over a new press. It will really help with some of the pressings that we have coming up, however it is a 7 1/2 HP 3 phase motor.

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I have nothing in the fab shop that can handle that power requirement. My phase converter is a 7HP rotary phase converter. Well worry no more. On Thursday came a knock at the door with the opening statement “friend of gun lab” and I am barring gifts.

On his trailer was a 15 HP rotary phase converter with a fabricated stand.

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IMG_9314sNow a new project for me is to wire it into the fab shop and run a 3 phase circuit in there.

Thanks to John U. for the phase converter.

Side note is that all the Budweiser aluminum in the drying rack in the back ground are for the metal casting project coming up and they are not mine. They all come from a certain German fellow.

]]> https://gunlab.net/needed-update-to-the-gun-lab-shop/feed/ 0 A day testing guns https://gunlab.net/a-day-testing-guns/ https://gunlab.net/a-day-testing-guns/#comments Wed, 01 May 2019 08:00:48 +0000 http://gunlab.net/?p=8270 This Sunday we spent 6 hours testing a variety of weapons. A few more VG1-5 rifles were tested. The MG-34 had all the springs replaced and was tested as well as the mpi-69. This is a quick video of what was 6 hours of actual work and testing.

]]> This Sunday we spent 6 hours testing a variety of weapons. A few more VG1-5 rifles were tested. The MG-34 had all the springs replaced and was tested as well as the mpi-69. This is a quick video of what was 6 hours of actual work and testing.

]]> https://gunlab.net/a-day-testing-guns/feed/ 7 A thanks to a friend of Gun Lab https://gunlab.net/a-thanks-to-a-friend-of-gun-lab/ https://gunlab.net/a-thanks-to-a-friend-of-gun-lab/#comments Thu, 20 Sep 2018 08:00:18 +0000 http://gunlab.net/?p=8015 A while back I did a post on the Webley pistol in 32. It is an interesting pistol but I had no ammo for it. The U.S. equivalent is .32 short Colt. Try and find that the local gun shop. Chuck O. a frien of gun lab dropped by with 3 boxes of it.

[...]]]> A while back I did a post on the Webley pistol in 32. It is an interesting pistol but I had no ammo for it. The U.S. equivalent is .32 short Colt. Try and find that the local gun shop. Chuck O. a frien of gun lab dropped by with 3 boxes of it.

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IMG_6289sIt will be out at the range with me on my next visit. Thanks Chuck

]]> https://gunlab.net/a-thanks-to-a-friend-of-gun-lab/feed/ 1 The Wood shop, Part 4 https://gunlab.net/the-wood-shop-part-4/ https://gunlab.net/the-wood-shop-part-4/#comments Tue, 11 Sep 2018 08:00:37 +0000 http://gunlab.net/?p=7940 With the wood shop checked and fixed it was time to look at the hardware and well room. It was just as bad if not worse.

The bearing support wall and beam was just destroyed by the termites.

All the sheet rock was removed from the walls and ceiling.

Temporary walls were built to [...]]]> With the wood shop checked and fixed it was time to look at the hardware and well room. It was just as bad if not worse.

The bearing support wall and beam was just destroyed by the termites.

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IMG_5577sAll the sheet rock was removed from the walls and ceiling.

IMG_5690sTemporary walls were built to support the second floor guest house.

IMG_2750sAnd the center wall was removed.

IMG_6005sIt is at this point that I have to give out a special thank you to a friend of Gun Lab, John U. It was with his help and knowledge that we were able to come up with the material and design for the new support for the second story guest house.

I had gotten a call late in the day with John saying he was stranded on I-10 and could I get a truck to help him move a trailer of stuff coming to my house. I borrowed a friends F-250 truck, which is a very nice truck, and headed out on a rescue journey.

In the truck and trailer was a steel I beam and all the jacks and rigging equipment to get the beam up and supported.IMG_2784cs

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IMG_2789sNow we were back in the game. First hole had to be dug and the beam moved in and prepped.

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IMG_6006sThe beam was painted and then the wood 2×8’s attached.

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IMG_6055sHoles were drilled and supports welded into place. Again thanks to John for his help and expertise.

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IMG_6070csThe columns were made up and ready for installation.

IMG_6080sThe beam was now rigged into place.

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IMG_6063sWith the beam up it was now time to use the screw jacks to place the beam into place and set the columns in.

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IMG_6073sSix columns were used to put pressure on the I beam. The columns were attached and then concreted into the floor.

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DSC_1147sNow on the part 5.

 

]]> https://gunlab.net/the-wood-shop-part-4/feed/ 0 The cane gun https://gunlab.net/the-cane-gun/ https://gunlab.net/the-cane-gun/#comments Wed, 21 Mar 2018 08:00:38 +0000 http://gunlab.net/?p=7735 Steve J. , a friend of gun lab, brought over a few of his toys to show and allow me to photograph.

This is a French 32short S&W cane gun.

You can see the button that is the trigger

The actual fire control and handle part.

A good shot of the firing pin and stop.

[...]]]> Steve J. , a friend of gun lab, brought over a few of his toys to show and allow me to photograph.

This is a French 32short S&W cane gun.

DSC_9133cYou can see the button that is the trigger

DSC_9136sThe actual fire control and handle part.

DSC_9141sA good shot of the firing pin and stop.

DSC_9143sThe threaded end of the barrel.

DSC_9145sThe tip of the cane to keep the barrel covered.

DSC_9138sYou can see the spring clip that keeps the cane tip secure.

DSC_9139sclose up of the cane tip

DSC_9140sIt also acts as the extractor

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DSC_9149sThe tips are used to pull out the cartridge from the barrel.

DSC_9146sWhat is really interesting is that the barrel is also smooth bore.

]]> https://gunlab.net/the-cane-gun/feed/ 4