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DOUG'S "BLOGS"
1921 Ring Sights (15 Apr 12): These are finished except for black oxide.
WW2 Compensator Pins (15 Apr 12): These are finished except for black oxide.
M1 Top Mounted Bolt Handle Kits (15 Apr 12): These are finished except for black oxide.
My associate (my old shop partner from years ago whom I have been trying to get to join me making receivers for years) is hot on my tail making the receivers as soon as I get things set up for him. With his eyes and my knowledge, the flood gates are opening. Now that I have him up to speed on the 4 basic styles, I can concentrate on setting up the next machine.
People ask why I just couldn't have restarted production where I left off. To a great extent, I have. But with new tooling available and time to rethink, I have re-engineered everything to make the receivers better than ever. I have programmed and re-programmed the machines to add every detail that is practical to add to the receivers and to increase our productivity as much as possible because I need to make a lot of receivers as fast as I can without cutting quality, which I will never do. The effort was worth it because the receivers really look great. Now I start setting up the next machine.
But not this weekend as I had planned because unless I get the machines & programming for making the Style M receivers ready to go by Monday morning, my associate will have nothing to do. After I get him started, I will go back to getting the next machine ready to continue the manufacturing process on the Style 2 receivers. I am in the process of remaking the bore finishing fixture, which is holding up work on the next machine. But, I did get all the back ordered Grip Mount Retainers shipped.
Actually, much of the work being done to get the receivers going is necessary for the other products. Although the receiver set-ups on the automatic machines are never taken off, I have designed the fixtures for other parts to fit on to the receiver fixtures. Big shops solve this problem by palletizing complete set-ups and then interchanging the pallets (which go on to the machines) for the particular part that is to be made. This requires a lot of floor space for fork-lift trucks to move about and big pallet storage areas.
With my system, when receiver production is over for the week on Friday afternoon (my associate does not share my attitude that Thompson work should never stop), I mount the fixtures for another part on to the receiver fixtures and then spend Saturday making the parts. Non-receiver products usually do not take more than one day to make any particular part.
A case in point: People have been waiting for Grip Mount Retainers for some time. Yesterday I mounted the fixtures for making the Grip Mount Retainer Frames on to the receiver fixtures. Today, I will make the Fames. Tomorrow, I will probably assemble the Frames so I can ship Grip Mount Retainers next week. Next weekend I will make another part on the automatic machines. Of course during the week, I work on other things that do not require the automatic machines when not helping my associate.
So here I go again. Surgery #17 will be on March 28. The doctor still says my vision will be corrected since tests today showed that my eye is capable of 20/30 without glasses. In the meantime, my associate helping me with receivers is working out well. With his eyes and skill coupled with my knowledge and expertise, receivers are getting made.
When my associate arrived this morning he was relieved to hear that I was completely satisfied with the receivers and I, therefore, had no planned changes. I think he considers me to be a nit picking fanatic. Maybe so, but I don't feel right if I can do better but don't. So now my associate will continue to do the primary machining on receivers and keep piling them up while I prepare the next machine for the following machine operations.
Even so, I desperately needed help if I were ever to catch up. I only know a couple of people who are qualified to help me make the receivers and they were not available. A turn of events freed up one of those people, actually the best one of them. He has now joined me on a full time basis.
Today, the major portion (I call it the "primary receiver machining sequences") on the first receiver of the 2012 receiver production was successfully completed. This takes the raw steel stock and turns it into what appears to be a receiver. The trigger housing fits on. It accepts a drum and rear sight. The rest of the work is fairly simple second operations. The machine program for just what was done today is over a thousand lines of code. Each line has several commands. An error in just one command can destroy a cutter worth a couple hundred dollars and/or destroy the receiver and that has happened several times in getting this far. I want to make the best Thompson receiver possible so I do what is necessary even if it doe not make business sense. But, I never claimed to be in business.
I can not say when the first 2012 receiver will be shipped so don't call me. When I know more, I will say more. But for all those people who have been waiting so patiently, I now see light at the end of the tunnel. Because they never gave up on me, I didn't either. Tomorrow is the first day of full production.
SAR Show (22 Dec 11) The SAR show in Phoenix was a resounding success. Madalon came back from Belize to work on the show. I had redesigned and remade the table set-up designs to improve both the appearance of our display and to make setting up the display a lot easier. It also makes it a lot easier to load up the car for the show. Everyone seemed to like the new display. If it wasn't the best show we ever had it was right up there. Check out the picture.
Milling Cutters (10 Aug 11): I did not have time to include the milling cutters in Catalog #70. I'm still working on finalizing what I want to offer. In the mean time, contact me if that is your area of interest.
Catalog (10 Aug 11): Catalog #70 is at the printers. Catalogs should go into the mail by Friday (Aug 12). Another stitch was taken out of my eye so this time I think I got the phone number correct. Doctor says in 1 month the last of the stitches will be removed.
In the meantime, I am moving my shop equipment, building benches, improving my setup for filling parts orders and doing everything I am capable of doing with the vision I have. Unfortunately, I am running out of parts but I am not capable of making more at this time. I'm also trying to get the new catalog out and figure out the milling cutters that I will be offering.
The new catalog will reflect my decision to offer all parts of the gun that are available anywhere and, in many cases, are available only from me. At least when you call me about magazine catches (for example), I know the difference between a 1921, 1928A1 and an M1 magazine catch.
Kidnapped by Space Aliens (14
Jun 11): Well, not really and the reports of my death are probably not true
but I’m getting a second opinion on that. I recently had another cornea
transplant to replace the last one that became infected and damaged after a
laser modification. I have been putting this off for the last two years,
waiting for the “right” time which, of course, never comes. But at least it
is the right time of year in that it’s too cold and rainy to work outside
and there is the least amount of dust in the air. I have been suffering some
apprehension regarding possible rejection of the transplant and surgical
complications. The medications I have had to take created a lot of
depression, disorientation and fatigue. So, what better time to run away?
And since this is the best time of year in Belize, where better a place to
run to. I’ll be back in Los Angeles in a week or so to get the stitches out
of my eye and find out how my eye is doing. I have been off the meds for a
while and so I’m starting to get some things done.
Among the things I have been working on is my “Workshop Manual” book. I
receive calls constantly about how to work on the gun so I know this is
important. Anything I can do to stop “my brother-in-law says he can take the
gun apart" and the reports I get of serious damage done to the gun by people
who do not know how to work on the gun, is effort well spent. I don’t know
how far I will get on the book in Belize but I know there is never time in
Los Angeles to do it.
I have become more and more aware of the difficulty people are experiencing
in finding sources for the milling cutters necessary to finish the inside of
semi-finished receivers. I did offer a couple of cutters in my catalog, but
even they had to be modified to use on the Thompson. Also, I lost my source
for high quality cutters. I decided to revisit the whole problem. I wrote a
short article on the cutters I recommend along with some machining tips. I
have located new sources for the cutters. It is my plan to modify the
cutters to the configuration I use and offer them in my catalog ready to
use. There is no sense in someone trying to get to where I am on their own.
I have made every mistake that can be made, so with this information and the
special cutters, people can get a jump start. Contact me for more info on
this if this is something you need. I will get it all formalized with time.
T-Slot Milling Cutters (19 May 11): I am working on getting a new source for these and have decided that I will try to offer them modified for use in the manufacture of Thompson receivers. This is the one tool I do not offer that seems to be really needed by those trying to finish receivers. More later on that. I believe that except for that cutter, my catalog now includes everything needed to finish a receiver or work on the guns.
Receiver Order Verification (13 Dec 10): For those of you who want to verify your receiver order, all you have to do is e-mail to ThompsonSMG@mail.com. Madalon is set up to locate a summary record of all receiver orders very quickly. She can't tell when a receiver will be shipped but she can confirm the order and position on the list.
Black Oxide (25 Sep 10): I will be doing another black oxide run soon in case anyone has parts needing to be bead blasted and blued. Do not send me anything without checking with me for shipping information.
Barrel Price Increase (6 Sep 10): As of the 1st of September, I have reluctantly raised the price on all new (original) barrels by $100. I will also not be supplying any more new, in the original wrap, WW2 M1 barrels. Instead, I will be providing excellent/new condition, reconditioned M1 gun take-offs at the old new barrel price. All barrels that I remanufacture into the various configurations will continue to be made from the remaining original, new condition WW2 barrels that I have left. This is a result of original barrels no longer being available at any price. I will have to revisit the possibility of manufacturing barrels. The problem has always been that the market for barrels is not large enough to justify manufacturing quality barrels.
Receiver Order Records (4 Jul
10): Old Doug learned a new trick thanks to the advice provided by many of
you. I have learned how to make a spread sheet for the receiver orders. Once
I enter the orders, I should be able to sort them by name, receiver type
and/or order date. This should enable me to look up a customer quickly to
respond to “am I still on the list or have you forgotten me?”. And
when I have receivers ready to ship, I can sort by receiver type and order
date. This will also give me a historical record of every order to tell me
that the order is open, shipped or cancelled. Hopefully, this will eliminate
a lot of customer frustration. It will consume some time getting all the
receiver orders listed but, hopefully, I will save some time in the long
run. We will just have to see how it goes.
One nice thing is that I think I will be able to answer the question “Where
am I on the list?”. My answer will be something like “You are #27 for a 1928
Display receiver.” This information should be available in August. I will
never be able to tell anyone when their receiver will be shipped. I don’t
know that until the receiver is ready for shipment.
Now, if only someone can tell me how to catch up on making the receivers. I
thought I had help lined up just before I left for Belize, but he quit on me
just as my old associate did a month ago. It’s very difficult to get anyone
to do anything. I’m having more trouble with my eyes and back which isn’t
helping. I’m getting too old.
I'm not going to copy a spring that has been compressed in a gun for 90 years, may or may not be original, and maybe wasn't made right in the first place. That's how so many people get themselves in trouble. They try to make a part by copying a part and then they claim it was made to the original specifications. The fact is that they don't have a clue as to what the original specifications were. The original 1921 recoil spring worked perfectly in 15,000 guns for almost a century. For someone to say they offer a spring which is an improvement over the original is to admit that they do not know what the original specifications were so "improvement" is their cover story.
This is one of the reasons I came up with my "PARTS CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM". It is my attempt to codify the words people use to describe their parts. My springs are being made exactly to the original Colt drawing.
Parts Classification (20
Apr 10): As Thompson parts become more difficult to find and the prices
increase correspondingly, more people are going to manufacture parts of
varying quality and make misleading claims regarding their products.
I have been trying to figure out a classification system for the parts I
offer as well as those that others offer. I’m not talking about condition.
The NRA established a system for that years ago. I’m talking about a system
that describes how the part was made. I have come up with the following
classification system for Thompson which I present for your consideration.
Comments are welcome.
PARTS CLASSIFICATION
(A Proposed System)
by
Douglas W. Richardson
OLD ORIGINAL
This would be any part made from 1916 through 1944 by or authorized by the
Auto-Ordnance Corporation including items procured directly by the
Government during WW2.
NEW ORIGINAL
This would include any part made that does not fall under OLD ORIGINAL but
which was made in complete accordance with the original Auto-Ordnance
dimensional, material, heat treatment and finish drawings. The only
exception would be a change in material used if the original material is not
readily available and the material used is as good as or better than the
original. For someone to make a part to conform to this category, he would
have to possess those original drawings.
REPRODUCTION
This would include any part made by reverse engineering an existing part or
otherwise copying a part as well as any part made partly in accordance with
the original drawings where the intention was to make a NEW ORIGINAL part
but the part fails to completely meet the definition of a NEW ORIGINAL part.
AFTER MARKET
Any part made, whether partly in accordance with the original drawings or
not at all, where the part differs from the original part or is a new design
in order to create a claimed improvement or different use.
FAKE
This would be any part which is claimed to be an OLD ORIGINAL but is not
regardless of how it was made. This would also include any part which was
made by anyone claiming to be a successor in interest to the original
Auto-Ordnance Corporation or marking their parts in such a way, without a
disclaimer, in order to mislead the buyer into believing he was buying a
part made by the original Auto-Ordnance Corporation.
M1 Display Pilots (19 Apr 10): Pilots were finished today except for black oxide.
I offer the Shop receiver for those few people who do have a Class 2 license. No one can legally make a machine gun without that license. It doesn't matter if your friend has an FFL. It doesn't matter if you know someone with a Class 2 license. If you don't have one, there is no point to ordering a Shop receiver. You won't be able to make a Display gun with it. You can make a Display receiver into a working gun if you someday obtain a license. Personally, I don't care. Order a Shop receiver and I'll send you one (eventually). I just don't want people to order something that isn't exactly what they need.
Some people have complained that I should put serial numbers on receivers ordered before the new policy, but it is very likely that they would never get a receiver if I continue as I have been doing. It would be different if I could get total cooperation but that is apparently not possible.
I had one customer who called me 4 times after I reminded him that he had promised never to call me about when he would get his receiver. His justification? He said that since I had required full payment in advance for his customization, he had a right to constant updates. What he did was to delay everyone's receiver. Multiply this by all the receiver back orders I have and it doesn't take a mathematician to figure out that it soon (like the national debt) excludes all progress.
Two 1928A1 Barreled Shop Receivers
M1A1 Barreled Shop Receivers
1921 Colt Barreled Display Receivers
With Colt #1 Markings And Fitted With Display Bolt Handles & Pilots
M1A1 Display Receivers Fitted with Display Bolt Handles & Pilots
1928A1 Display Receivers Fitted With Display Bolt Handles & Pilots
Buttstock Attachments (20 Mar 10): The design was finalized today. The last change was an improved spring arrangement and selection of the spring. The various styles of buttstocks which will be fitted with the attachment are in work. My attachments are not interchangeable with original Thompson attachments and will be offered only ae part of the buttstocks I am making. The buttstocks in work are 1921, 1923 and 1927 types. 1922 (with blued catch which can be nickel plated for Colt applications) and 1928A1 (re-enforced) are styles available surplus so there is no point in making them.
2S Bolt Cavity Drawing (1 Mar 10): The drawing of how to finish the bolt cavity has been temporarily removed from the Semi-Auto section due to an error in the dimensioning. In my haste to get the old drawing modified and posted, I forgot to change the back end of the bolt cavity. When I get back to California, I’ll make the correction.
It then struck me that it is because I sell through a catalog rather than via the internet. It also seems strange to me that the person has been waiting so long for someone to offer a pivot plate tool rather that reimburse me for my $3 cost ($5 postpaid) of printing my catalog. I wonder how much that person would have saved himself in both money and stress by having had my catalog.
After all, I do offer more Thompson products than everyone else in the world combined. I, and most of my customers, do not live on-line. I'd guess that half of my customers do not even have ready access to the internet, so an on-line catalog would not work for me. But, recognizing that these on-line only people do exist, I have made a list of my Thompson products that are shown in the catalog. The list will be posted near the beginning of this website under the catalog information. That way, people will be able to know what is in the catalog before ordering it. A secondary benefit is that I will no longer have to answer endless questions about whether I offer this item or that item. They say you can't teach an old Doug new tricks. I think I just learned one.
If anyone is waiting for those types of receivers, he should call me at 310-457-6400. There are a few people who I have been unable to contact for all types of receivers. Anyone who has been waiting a LONG time and has changed their contact information should also call.
If you haven't changed your contact information or if you have and have told me about it, please don't call. I am talking about old orders only.
I go into the hospital next week for hernia surgery. I expect to restart shipping receivers the following week. No receiver will be shipped without a confirming phone call so don't call me about it.
Or, it would be very easy for me to respond to someone asking about his receiver order to say "What is your number?" and then tell him what the last number shipped was.
Someone else who had ordered an M1 receiver earlier would simply remain on the list until I had that type of receiver available.
Of course, the nightmare that I know would come are the calls "Would you please stop everything and look through every order you have and tell me what my number is because I lost it." And, of course, "I also don't remember what name I ordered it under." I can't win.
I would have been able to get more done, but 4 calls today required me to shut down to tell people that "No, I did not promise you that you would be moved ahead of every one else." "If I had shipped a receiver to you, I would have called you first." "No, I am not going to make an exception for you and customize your receiver." "No, I do not have time to look through hundreds of orders to tell you what you ordered, you will have to check your own records."
Next week all "Colt" and M1 and M1A1 receivers go into engraving rather than waiting for them all.
I am also making a special effort to put the serial numbers on them as requested since they were paid for in advance and then the receivers were delayed.
This will be the last batch of receivers with serial numbers. My plan for the future is to make fewer receivers in each batch and they will all be the same in each batch so there will be more of a continuing flow. The new policy is already working to speed things up.
Actuators (28 Jan 10): All advance orders for 1921 actuators have been sent.
Unfortunately, the automatic machining center decided to quit. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) board failed and the machine became brain dead. I called the repair man at 5pm Friday. By 7pm a new board had been installed and the machine working again. (Fantastic service!) Fortunately, I have back ups of back ups because the machine had to be completely reprogrammed. By noon Saturday, I had reprogrammed the machine. By 3pm the missing lock ramps were all finished.
I mention this as just one more example of why I had to discontinue customizing receivers. I could have lost any one of the 3 receivers if something had gone wrong in the ramps machining cycle. Then I would have been caught between the rock and the hard place, as they say, because every one of those receivers has been fully paid for and the customers are waiting to receive them. In the future, all receivers will be made for stock and no customers called until they are ready to ship. Then it doesn't matter if I lose a receiver.
I will also be making buttons to fit original catches. Since they will be used to replace buttons that have already fallen out, a new button made in accordance with the original drawing would probably fall out as well. It's just a bad design. Therefore, my current plan is to make the button without the shank and use a spring pin to hold the button and catch together and also provide the spring pilot. The kit will be priced at $15.
Yet, I received the following communication (which I posted under ("Customer Comments"): "Either send me my receiver at once, or my money - all of it. If I don’t get satisfaction by the end of the month I will take legal action. Taking money and not delivering the product is mail fraud, a Federal offense (apart from being flat out sleazy). I’m out of patience with you."
Now, let's assume for the sake of illustration that this particular receiver (I haven't looked in to it yet.) had been engraved with a special serial number but it was not yet black oxided. And, maybe I noticed something about the receiver that I wasn't happy with like, for instance, one of the sight screw hole threads needed re-tapping. Then say I get a communication like that one above. I want to comply and refund the customer's money "at once", even at this last minute. But, how can I? The receiver is not ready for shipment "at once" and yet it is customized to the point where I can not ship it to the next person on the list. My solution, as stated in the "New Receiver Policy", is not to create customized receivers.
Fortunately, in this case, I had not put a serial number on the receiver, so I can both refund the unhappy customer's money and make the next person on the list happy by sending him the receiver.
Everyone is sort of happy and I'm not so "sleazy". I really hate being sleazy. Also, you can see that asking for the balance of the money before I am ready to ship, which is absolutely necessary if the receiver is customized for a particular customer, seems to grant the customer new demanding rights not possessed when only a deposit has been paid.
Again, my new policy eliminates this time consuming problem. All-in-all, with my new policy, I might actually get some receivers made. I really wish I could do better, but there is still only one of me and so many hours in a day.
Shop (19 Dec 09): While we were at the show, the new roof got put on and then we had a big rainstorm. The shop stayed dry so I guess the new roof is ok. Tarps are now off the machines and I moved in a new machine to take over making the receiver feed ramps. That is being set up now. When ready, I will be able to finish the current batch of receivers. I do not know how I missed putting in the feed ramps on some of them but I just didn't notice that it hadn't been done.
SAR Show (21 Nov 09): I will be at the SAR gun show in Phoenix first weekend in December. If you want me to bring anything special, let me know. I always try to relax and have a good time at the show. It also gives me a chance to meet some of the Thompson people that I only know by phone voice or letters which is nice.
The good news is that a whole new roof is being put on the building and I'm gaining more floor space. I'll virtually have a new shop. I intend to move all receiver operations into the expanded area to try to gain further efficiencies and to make myself less vulnerable in Malibu where I have to work around the weather outdoors. Unfortunately, there is still only me doing the work and I'm feeling the handicaps of being 72.
Beware (18 Oct 09): BEWARE: I have received a number of reports that receivers being resold are being claimed to have been manufactured by me. This is flattering but if the receiver was not made by me, the buyer is not getting what he thinks he paid for. So be advised that all receivers (with only a very few exceptions) made by me are marked with an “R” on the bottom. Receivers made in 2008 and on have the “R” in the grip mount pocket. Earlier receivers had the “R” in the bolt area.
The 1921 "Colt" with square actuator slot is made differently from those with round end slots and so I consider it to be a different model. I have also stopped adding the cost of the special "Colt" surface finish to the basic receiver price and included it as an option because some people may want a receiver with the square end slot but not want the "Colt" surface finish or markings. Or they might want the "Colt" surface finish and not want the "Colt" markings. In all cases where "Colt" markings are ordered, the special "Colt" surface finish must be ordered.
Since I file all receiver orders by model as listed on the Receiver Order Form, you must tell me what model you ordered if you want me to find your order. Keeping a copy of your receiver order would seem to me to be a given, yet people call me about their receiver order and can't tell me what they ordered because they didn't keep a copy of their order.
So I have gone back to the list and assigned their receivers to the next person in line which results in a further delay. Then there are the last minute changes.
Fortunately, I can accommodate some changes like adding the ramps & bevels and different markings. But I am dismayed at the time it is taking to get everything finalized.
Then, I guess because of my poor eyesight, some of the receivers did not get the barrel threads cut so I have to go back and do that. All in all, though, I am pleased with the progress I have made and expect to be able to turn out receivers faster in the future. The most important thing to me is that people like what I send to them. My goal is to get ahead of the orders so as to have receivers on the shelf. This is still a hobby for me and I have limited time available to spend on Thompson but I am taking steps to increase that time. Even so, everything always takes longer than I anticipate.
My associate was able to make them on his horizontal machining center (HMC) which is like an automatic lathe, so now I have lots of them both 1921 style and 1928 style. The checkering is identical with the 1921 knob which I was able to accomplish a while back as part of the tooling being developed for the 1921 actuators. No one ever gets the checkering right. I defy anyone to see a difference between the Colt checkering and my checkering. My associate seems more motivated to finish the actuators now that only the knobs are left to do and they are similar to the Display bolt handle knobs just finished. The problem with the actuators is more complicated because the actuator is difficult to hold.
That does not mean that everyone needs to start calling me or standing by their mail box. I just want to make sure that there is no question about what THOSE people want. Please don't call me about receiver ship dates.
Things are taking longer than I had anticipated because of the shop move. A few of the cutter settings got corrupted and I still can't find one fixture. If it isn't in Malibu, I'll make a new one tomorrow. I did not remember that I had made a lot of new gages before the shop move. They are really speeding things up and making the receivers have even closer tolerances.
Putting in the lock ramps turned out to be more difficult than I had realized but that is solved now. I can understand why the Class II manufacturers were after me for so long to offer that option. It's the one area of the receiver that creates the most grief unless you are set up for it.
1921 Actuators (18 Jun 09): A recent e-mail referred to my associate who was making the actuators as having quit. He never quit. He is still working on them. I just gave up relying on his promises as to when they would be finished. It's been next week every week now for over 2 years. This is why I refuse to give promise dates. I'd rather not give a date than be unreliable. The picture shows the actuators in their current state of completion. The are beautiful. They will be the best 1921 actuators ever made and will look like Colt's. So far I'd guess he has over a thousand dollars in each one. He is a fanatic for perfection but a horrible businessman. He promises they will be finished next week. Or was that just a recording that repeats every week? I think I have heard that before
.
I have a few originals for the purist available @ $65. I got them 20 years ago when I was stripping a quantity of M1A1 guns and have never seen them offered anywhere since.
Receivers (26 Apr 09): Due to manufacturing sequence changes, I am able to include the breech entry cutter clearance pocket on the top of the bolt cavity on all M1/M1A1 and MS receivers that I make from now on and it will be a standard feature. This will be a real help to those who will be finishing my receivers into working machine guns with a Class II license.
My Response on Machine Gun
Boards.Com Regarding Receiver Delivery (14 Mar 09): It is quite
obvious that Mr. XXXXX is unhappy with me or at least with the way I manage
my life. I’m sure most everyone believes they can run my life better than I
can and maybe they can. But, regardless, I will continue to muddle along
doing things my way. I’m told I don’t know how to run a business. I think I
do but I never claimed to be running a business. If I were running a
business with employees, I would have to charge $1500 for a receiver. As it
is, I charge less for a “Colt “ receiver than Colt did and they made a lot
more than I have and I believe mine are better quality than Colt’s.
I’m 72 years old. I don’t need or want a job. I work on Thompsons when I
have time because I enjoy it. If what I do appeals to some people, then they
can benefit from what I do. If not, our paths need not cross. I ask for a
$100 deposit on a receiver just to make sure the person is serious, but then
more is sent, apparently assuming that more creates preferential treatment.
It doesn’t. I state that I am years behind and yet two months after
ordering, the customer wants to know why he hasn’t gotten a receiver. I
refuse to give a ship date because there are too many variables in my
situation. Even so, people seem to create ship dates on their own. I ask
people not to call me about ship dates, yet I sometimes lose whole shop days
answering the telephone about ship dates. No one has ever complained about
what I do. Complaints are about what I do not do that the complainer wants
me to do even though I never said I would do. In the 60+ years I have been
making Thompson parts (I made my first receiver in 1957.), I have never had
an item returned for dissatisfaction.
I have experienced some severe setbacks. I lost of my vision and it has
never totally recovered. I have back problems that limit how much time I can
spend on my feet. Age creates other health problems. Then I lost the shop
with virtually no notice. Maybe I should have quit at any one of those
times, but I like doing it. The back log on receivers distresses me but I’ve
caught up on most everything else. I have finally gotten my catalog redone
cover to cover so as to only feature what I will be delivering. I am not
adding any new products unless I partner with someone who does the work. I
am finishing up the products I had in development. Publishing my new book on
Thompson models was a work in progress that had been ongoing for years. I
believe that is the one book Thompson enthusiasts should have if they have
no other. I’m trying to finish up the workshop manual. I feel obligated to
pass on as much Thompson info as I can. I am simplifying and automating all
of my products in order to be as efficient as possible. I try to make people
understand that I don’t make a receiver for a customer. I make a lot and
then determine where they should go. I try to post updates on my website
www.ThompsonSMG.com when I can but that takes time.
There is no way I can make Mr. XXXXX happy and further delay will only make
things worse. Mr. XXXXX should have simply asked for a refund rather than
waste my time publicly commenting on this on the board. To avoid more
unhappiness, I have cancelled his order and issued a refund. People should
know that not one person has ever lost a penny trusting me.
Inventory (22 Feb 09): Receiver Wrenches and M1/M1A1 Bolt to 1921/28 Receiver Adaptor Pilots are back in stock. Barrel Vises are almost finished. Universal Barrel Wrenches are now starting manufacture.
Barrel/Forearm Reinforcing Strap (28 Jan 09): I got a phone call from someone who had purchased one of these straps. It was an aftermarket product obviously made by reverse engineering an original (or guessing?) and, of course, it didn't fit. This call reminded me that the strap was one of the items I had intended to manufacture but just had to put it aside because of a lack of time. I resurrected the project and discussed it with my stamping associate to determine if we could make it at a reasonable cost. While I was gone, he went ahead and made the dies. I don't know what we will be selling them for but I'm sure we will lose money on the project which is why I didn't pursue it vigorously originally. Ours is made in accordance with the original manufacturing drawing which I have and will, therefore, be like the original. (What a concept!) More on this later.
Misrepresented Receivers
(4 Jan 09): I have received reports of semi-finished receivers being resold
or offered for sale which are claimed to have been made by me. I appreciate
that people think my receivers are the best available and so the claim that
I made the receiver enhances its value. But there are two problems caused by
this. Firstly, is the fraud involved in taking advantage of the buyer’s
ignorance. And secondly, is the injury caused to me by my being associated
with a lesser quality receiver than I make. Except for some rare exceptions,
every receiver I have ever made is engraved with an “R” on the bottom,
either in the bolt cavity area or in the grip mount pocket. Receivers made
in 2008 and on have the “R” in the grip mount pocket. In every case when I
have received a call to confirm that I made a particular receiver being
falsely claimed to be one of mine, there was no “R”. I will include a note
about this in my next catalog description of my receivers.
Receiver Wrenches (26 Dec 08): The bodies got made in the new shop. They are made to a new design but work exactly as before. I already had the rest of the parts. I have to do a black oxide run so that will finish the wrenches and get some old orders shipped. Unfortunately, I am barely able to function because of my broken back, so everything is moving at a crawl. I'm going to convalesce in Belize with Madalon until January 21 so nothing more will get done until I get back.
When it rains it pours (24 Dec 08): I didn't have electricity for a week. Internet access has been out for 1-1/2 weeks. Miserable weather for 2 weeks. And I fell down and fractured a vertebrae so I can barely walk. Good news is that parts are being made at the new shop.
Models Book (08 Dec 08): I managed to get my new book finished just in time for the SAR show. I am quite pleased with the way it turned out. I have already been told by some advanced collectors that they didn't know some of the models shown in my Models book existed or how the models and accessories related to each other. I think this book will become the reference book for identifying Thompson models just as my Drum book and Box Magazine book have become the standard reference for the mags. I know it's true because everyone who has written about mags since my books were published has copied from them. Some don't even bother to use their own words, they just copy verbatim. I guess I should be flattered but it would be nice if I were given credit as the source.
SAR Show (8 Dec 08): Another great event. Best show in the West. It was nice to meet some of you people there.
Collector's Armoury Thompsons (8 Dec 08): My friend and inspiration, Tom Nelson of gun book writing fame, showed off his newest import Thompson "replica" guns. Check out the ad sheet under "Collector's Armoury Thompsons" on this website.
Kahr Trigger Housing Wanted (23 Nov 08): I'm going to build a working semi-auto pistol with one of my 2SP receivers. So if anyone has a complete Kahr trigger housing assembly for sale or trade, let me know.
SAR (17 Nov 08): The SAR gun show in Phoenix during the first weekend in Dec. is a must for all of you who can manage to attend. I will be there as will Gordon Herigstad, Tim Polston (SA Ordnance), Bob Bower (Philadelphia Ordnance) and the usual suspects all together. Polston has informed me that he has joined with Bower to manufacture his semi-auto Thompson. They are finalizing the design to ready the gun for production. At the last SAR, I had suggested to Bower that he seriously consider getting involved with Polston on this project. I think that the Polston/Bower combination will work. Polston says they want to talk to me at the show about getting involved, but the only part of it that I am interested in is supplying special upscale receivers for his gun as I have done in the past. Those of you who are interested in the Polston gun will have a great opportunity to find out everything about it.
2) The second problem is that there is inadequate contact information given in the order. I open the mail, check the orders and, if there is a problem, I immediately telephone or FAX or e-mail. If there is only an address, the order goes into a separate file for me to write letters when I get a chance, which may take a couple of weeks, and then drop the letter off at the Post Office which may not be for 2 more weeks.
American Gunsmith Magazine (20 Oct 08): An article featuring my barrel tools is reproduced on this website under the heading "American Gunsmith Magazine Article". It seems that Thompson popularity is beginning to be recognized by the rest of the gun world.
Shop (16 Oct 08): Finally got the last of the machinery moved into the new shop.
New Stuff (10 Oct 08): I have added three new "Dear Doug" items and Trigger Housing Assembly Pins Instructions in the Tool Instructions section. When ever I add or change something, I will put the alert in this Blog section because people have told me they check the Blogs regularly. So by my mentioning an update, those who are interested can go straight to the update without having to check the entire website for changes.
Catalog #62 (30 Sep 08):
Catalog #62 is available now. I am very pleased to have finally gotten all
the receiver configurations documented. The semi-auto page is now updated
to show the 2S and MS
receiver components. Except for the complete guns section, the entire
catalog has been updated. I am not in a position to offer the complete guns
at this time and when I do, I will probably only offer 1928 (& 21) Savage,
1928A1, M1 and M1A1. Unless I can put the "Colt" trigger housings back into
production, I will be unable to build "Colt" guns. M2 receivers are "Shop"
type only so display guns can not be built on those receivers. Therefore,
even if I do offer the guns again, there will be only four types. I have
kept the gun pages in the catalog primarily for information. Probably, on
the next edition of the catalog, I will revise those pages and delete the
others.
Shop Status (18 Sep 08): The shop won't be relocated until Oct. 1 and then won't be up and running for a while after that. I really didn't need this but it will be a bigger and better shop in the end.
I've decided to call the 2M receiver designed to use either an M1 bolt assembly or M1A1 bolt assembly, the model 2MM. I'm spending time working this out because I believe that once people understand exactly what these receivers offer, they will become very popular. I now have all my receiver configurations finalized (at least for now) so the next effort in the office will be to revise the markings section of my catalog then the guns section.
Shop Homelessness (25 Aug 08): Hopefully I will have a new facility soon for making receivers. My associate who was providing me with a work area sold his business and retired leaving me shop homeless. It will probably work out better than before but moving and resetting up is not easy and consumes a lot of time which I don't have any to spare. Just when I thought I had solved all the problems and would soon catch up on making receivers, this happens. "It's always something!"
Orders Shipped (30 Jul 08): Every order was shipped today except receivers, Headspace Gages and Assembly Pins.
Actuators (26 Jul 08): I give up. There is no hope that my associate will finish the actuators any time soon if at all. Unless I make them, they probably won't get made. Every time I rely on someone else, it turns into a disaster.
Headspace Gage Plugs & Assembly Pins (26 Jul 08): These items are being made now.
Receiver Order Categorizing (21 Jul 08): I now file all receiver orders by type not by customer. If you contact me about your receiver order, I need to know what you ordered in order to find the information. Model, Display or Shop and for "Colts" whether round or square end actuator slot.
I'm trying to eliminate as much none essential stuff from my life as possible in order to do what I really want to do. I'm completely out of catalogs again, have a new product to post, trying to finish up the selection of the parts necessary for my semi-auto receivers, clear up all the questions on the last batch of receivers sent out before I left, finish up some barreled receivers for the movie prop shop and post some pictures of some of the receivers just finished.
Of course, moving the shop is just a small detail.
Customer Comments (20 Jul 08): Check out the new section. I was told I have to have customer comments to be part of the e-market. Good or bad, I'll post them. But they have to be about my service or my products, not third hand or about other people.
Return (19 Jul 08): I have returned to the U.S. from Belize. People think it was a vacation. I worked 16 hours a day every day. Got a lot done but got back to find out that the shop where I make the receivers is being vacated and I have to leave. It's always something. So I'm shut down until I can find a new place. Apparently, there was no big mix-up in all the receivers I sent out which is a miracle considering the pandemonium here at time trying to leave.
Receiver Shipments (30 Jun
08): I shipped every receiver and barreled receiver order that I had
requested full payment for and other miscellaneous orders which did not
include Headspace Gaging Plugs on Monday June 23 before I left for home in
Belize that night.
I was only able to call a few people before I left to tell them that their
receiver had been shipped. They should all have arrived by now. Apparently,
there were no problems since I have not heard of any. Please do not keep
asking me when I will ship a particular receiver. I don’t know. If I haven’t
asked for full payment, don’t be looking for a receiver in the mail. I can’t
do better than I’m doing.
Comments (30 Jun 08): I’m told that I need a customer comment section to bring me into the world of internet marketing. So, I’m pulling comments and responses out of my files and will post the good as well as the bad. If there is anything you want to say about my products or services to others, this is your chance. The postings will be limited to 1 or 2 sentences and will not include names other than the names people call me.
Savage 1928 (22Jun08): There seems to be some misunderstanding about this gun. This gun was only made for the British. Therefore, if you specify 1928 Savage markings, you will be getting a British gun. I'll put a note on this in my catalog. I assumed people were doing their homework before ordering a receiver but apparently not as many people ordered this marking thinking it was on U.S.Army guns. If I ever get my new book on Thompson models finished, this info will be readily available.
Calling me to repeatedly ask when a receiver will be finished is a waste of my time. About the 3rd time I'm asked, I wait for an opportunity during the conversation, such as a statement that "I wouldn't have ordered if I had known it would take so long." to establish a firm delivery date - for their cancellation refund.
I had 2 people recently who had ordered "Colt" receivers which I cancelled. One had only waited 6 months. They wanted to get to the head of the list by paying extra or some other tactic. I said to get to the head of the list they had to wait the longest. I don't know where they think they are now going to get a "Colt" receiver, but it won't be from me. I can't do more than I'm doing, so don't waste my time by asking. Watch this website. If I have anything to say - I will say it here.
The M2 receiver is how an M1/M1A1 receiver would look if I (or perhaps Colt) had designed it. The bolt handle slot is located on top like the 1921/1928 receiver and uses the same modified M1 or M1A1 bolts as the 192M. The trigger housing rail walls are extended to the back like the 192M. Side radii are dimensioned to properly blend together and match the trigger housing. The upper sides are continued forward to the front end to produce a sleeker looking receiver. The nose of the receiver is relieved on the sides below the barrel area to better match both horizontal and vertical foregrips. It is available with two styles of rear ends: 1) The standard M1 shape to match M1/M1A1 trigger housings and 2) an optional 1921 shape to match 1921/8 trigger housings. It is also available with the top rear edges non-radiused to accept a Lyman adjustable rear sight. This receiver is interchangeable with any TSMG receiver. It is available in both “Display™” and “Shop™” versions.
1) All receivers are shipped by Priority U.S. Mail which gives 2-3 day delivery.
Anyway, what I do is notify a person when I have identified a receiver that is the type they want and has all the machine work done. It still has to be finished, engraved and blued. If the receiver is a custom one, I ask for full payment before I start. If it is a standard one, I ask for $100 deposit. If it is to be engraved with any custom markings including a serial number, I ask for full payment before it is engraved.
The master pattern for "U.S.PROPERTY" got made. So, that marking is now available.
Receiver Finished (5 May 08): Calls went out all day today advising people that their receivers were nearing completion. I make these calls within 30 days of the ship date. This is the first batch that was done during the pre-production phase. There is every configuration, even some I will never make again. They were allocated in accordance with what was available in order of order date. What that means is that some people got receivers before others who had waited longer, usually because not every marking style was available. From now on things will be a lot more organized because all the configuration and manufacturing development has been done. I didn't know until just before I made the call that that person would be getting a receiver so don't call me and ask me when yours will be ready because I don't know and I won't spend the time to try to do the research to make a guess.
1928A1 #A.O.42458 (5 May 08): I need the person who ordered this receiver to call me. 310-457-6400
MS Receiver (29 Apr 08): Due to a cancellation, I have one MS (semi-auto) receiver finished and available now.
Colt Receiver Prices (28 Apr 08): The prices for all new orders for Colt receivers will be $10 higher. That means Colt Display receivers will be $495 and Colt Shop receivers will be $445. This covers the extra cost of the smooth finish that I am now putting on the Colts. I decided to make the extra effort in order to duplicate the original Colt receivers as much as possible. The receivers with the new fine finish really look good. WW2 receivers will remain unchanged. They have a dull black finish.
I should have finished receivers to show at the Kingman Show & Shoot although they will not be for sale because they will go to those who have been waiting. I realize that it seems to take forever, but I have come a long way toward getting caught up. As soon as the present batch of receivers has been shipped, I will be making batches of one type of receiver at a time which will speed things up. The receivers really look good so I hope everyone will feel the wait was worth it. It seems like every day someone calls me to complain about a receiver they got from someone else and wanting me to fix it. Of course, I don't work on receivers not made by me. But at least no one will be calling someone else to fix my receivers and that's what is most important to me.
Once I get the these finished and sent out, I will resume starting more receivers and will be making batches of the same type.
At that time I will attempt to determine approximate delivery dates. It is a shame I have to stop one thing to do another, but there is still only one of me and I am wearing out.
Receiver Lock Ramps (27 Feb 08): Manufacturing includes the machines that do the work, cutters that the machines use to remove metal to make the part, programs that tell the machines where to cut and fixtures that hold the part in place in the machines. When the machine has made the part, gages are used to determine if the part was made in accordance with the drawing. This photo shows the gage used to check the location of the lock ramps in relation to the front face of the receiver.
Receiver Production (15 Feb 08): Apparently, people still do not understand that I do not buy a piece of steel and then make one receiver for a particular person. I make a lot of this kind of receiver and then a lot of that kind of receiver, etc. which is precisely what I'm doing.
When a batch of receivers gets finished, I then look into the production order file to find the earliest order for what ever I have available to ship.
Regarding that, I am still trying to get all the old orders finalized on the Receiver Order Form. So if you haven't done that, you need to call me at 310-457-6400 to get it done. The Form was removed from the website because people were trying to use the Form to place new receiver orders in spite of me repeatedly stating that the website is not a Catalog.
Do not even try to order a receiver without the Catalog information because I will not take time away from receiver production to read the Catalog to someone. There is just too much information about receivers and Thompson's in general in the Catalog.
Also, please do not ask me when
your receiver will be shipped because I don't know.
I still do this as a hobby and can not predict when I can work on receivers
or how long things take. It's unfortunate that I was out of commission for
so long but I am catching up. I can tell you that the receivers I am making
now surpass anything I have made in the past. I am extremely pleased with
the way they are turning out.
This means that the only difference now between an M2 receiver and an M1 receiver will be that the trigger housing rails on the M2 will continue all the way to the back as before which is the same way I make the rails on my 192M, 192S and MS receivers. This is how the M1 should have been made in the first place but WW2 production used as much of the 1928A1 fixtures and tooling as possible and so the 1928 style rails (which were necessary for the oiler) was carried over into the M1.
My M2/192M,192S and MS rails creates a better and stronger receiver without changing the outside appearance. (M2 style rails can be modified to be M1 style.) M2s will continue to have the top mounted bolt handle as standard but the M1 style side bolt handle slot in lieu of the top slot and the breach entry chamfering cutter clearance, which is necessary with the side bolt handle slot, will be optional at no extra charge.
I will continue to offer the optional 1921 style rear end shape and Lyman sight flat as before. For those people who want an absolutely authentic M1/M1A1 Display gun, my M1/M1A1 Display receiver should be ordered.
For those who intend to make a shooting M1/M1A1 gun, I recommend ordering an M2 receiver with the M1 side bolt handle slot. I will continue to offer M1 Shop receivers but I believe the M2 is the better way to go. The shooting gallery people will particularly benefit from this recommendation since they have been experiencing receiver failures with standard original M1 & M1A1 guns after a lot of use.
If you want the other drawings you need to refer to the assembly drawings to determine the drawing (same as part) number and order by drawing number and description. All parts also have additional material, heat treatment and finish drawings. Don't worry about that as I will note that information on the part drawing as a courtesy. If an item is an assembly that is not field strippable, there will be an assembly drawing but you won't be able to find the number from the gun or magazine assembly drawings. If an assembly has a subassembly within, you will also not be able to find that number from the assembly drawings. For those drawings, include payment and I will be able to locate those drawings from the other drawing numbers ordered. Drawings are filed by drawing number and should be ordered by drawing number and description. If you want me to research the drawing numbers from the descriptions, I charge an extra $20 to do that for a reasonable number of searches. There are hundreds and maybe thousands of Thompson drawings and I have most all of them.
Start with the full size assembly drawings and go from there. I offer these drawings in hopes that if someone is going to make a Thompson part, that at least they have the information to do it properly. If someone offers new made Thompson parts and I ask to what drawing number they were made and they tell me they don't actually have the original drawing then I say then you are not making Thompson parts - just more junk.
Receiver Production (8 Nov 07): I am absolutely ecstatic. Yesterday the first receiver since January 2004 was completed. It is a 1928 Display with lock ramps & bevels. I don't know if anyone else includes extractor slots on their receivers, but I have always included the slot as a standard feature. But, cutting the extractor slot was always a problem because it meant subcontracting the work out, sometimes took up to a month and occasionally ended up with receivers being destroyed because the set up was botched. So I re-engineered the slot procedure, designed new cutters and made new fixtures that literally make it impossible to screw up. It took a couple of minor fixes to the cutters but yesterday the first receiver extractor slots were cut using the new procedure. This means I now have complete control over the time it takes to make a receiver because I'm no longer having to rely on complicated outside help. So, it's done. I'm now ready to start full production. I have to concede that I totally underestimated what it would take to resume production after a 4 year shut down. But, I saw no sense in doing less than the best that the time, new types of cutters being available and my own increase in technical capability would allow. I also had to remake about half the existing fixtures and make many more new ones. Also, people were wanting new things like the lock ramps and a "Shop" type receiver to be offered. But, it's done and full production is starting.
Receiver Orders Finalization (4 Nov 07): I now need to know everyone's final order. A number of receivers are nearing completion as part of the pre-production manufacturing effort. There is a variety except there are no 21/28 Shop and all 21/28 receivers have lock ramps & bevels. Call me at 310-457-6400 or e-mail me directly at dougwr@dslextreme.com if there are any changes to your original order. This is not a maintained address or for general Thompson communication.
Bolt Handles (29 Oct 07): All configurations of bolt handles have been made. The 21 & 28 dummy bolt handles for the display receivers have been changed to have a smooth straight shank. Older Richardson receivers must be modified (most anyone can do it) to accept the new style handles. The old screw in design is no longer available.
Receivers (7 Oct 07): More
problems solved. Now twenty (20) receivers are in process.
Actuators (7 Oct 07): We finally
got the knob checkering as close to Colt as is probably possible. No one has
ever gotten it right before so I am quite pleased. That was the big problem
with the actuator. Maybe we can now make some real progress.
Receivers (3 Oct 07): We are now going through the
files and creating a summary list of people who have receivers on order,
receiver type and date of order. I want to make sure that receivers are sent
out in accordance with the order date as much as possible. However, that
doesn’t mean that everyone needs to call me or write me- -(please don’t). No
receiver will be sent out without me calling the person in advance to
confirm all aspects of the order so as to incorporate any changes desired.
The effort right now is to make receivers for inventory.
Receivers (2 Oct 07): The first 1928 “Display (tm)” receiver was completed
today except for the extractor slot. It included the lock ramps & bevels. It
disclosed a few manufacturing problems which I am fixing now. I am also
trying to revise my method of cutting the extractor slot in order to be able
to do that in house as well. The problem is that if I am ever to catch up,
everything must be as efficient as possible. I am extremely pleased with the
receiver made. It really looks good. I know people have been waiting a long
time so it is important to me that everyone ends up feeling that the wait
was worth it.
Whereas I am not interested in becoming a gun manufacturer or being involved in large quantities of any thing, I am interested in supplying "Shop" style receivers to those who want to have a special Polston gun. The idea being that I would supply the receiver ready for finishing to the owner of a parts kit and that person would send it on to Polston for finishing. I have already made the first Polston receiver production sample.
Don't bother contacting Polston at this time because he does not have a shop capable of doing this or the manufacturing license yet. I will keep you posted.
Even if the person never intends to make the gun work, the satisfaction of having a gun that good makes the cost acceptable as opposed to using an aluminum or low grade steel receiver which can never be anything more. For that person I offer my standard "Display (tm)" receiver.
However, there is a growing demand for receivers that are intended to be finished with the proper approvals for a full-auto and semi-auto receivers. These receivers don't need some of the features that my "Display (tm)" receivers have such lightening holes to yield the original gun weight, clearance to enable the trigger housing components to function and provisions for a dummy pilot and bolt handle. Therefore, I have decided to offer a new category of receivers which, for lack of a better name (suggestions?), I will call "Shop" receivers.
These receivers will have every Thompson feature as my "Display (tm)" receivers have but none of the extra features necessary to create a ready to go display gun without further work. I will offer the standard Thompson models of 1921-1928A1 and M1 & M1A1 as both "Display" and "Shop" models but all others will be offered only as "Shop" models. The cost of the "Shop" receivers will be about $50 less than the "Display" receivers. Everything I have published heretofore about the "Display" receivers stands. Check "New Products" for for "Shop" Receivers.
Just today I made a change in the bolt handle slot design for the semi-automatic N/K style receivers to eliminate a machine cut that heretofore would have had to be done buy the user. A small thing but a better product for the user.
Then there is the manufacturing engineering. That develops the whole production process. Machines, fixtures, cutters, programs, materials, etc.- - everything it takes to turn the receiver designs into finished products. That has been done but, again, changes go on forever. Yesterday I revised 3 of the cutters to speed things up.
Then the actual process of turning steel material into finished receivers begins. That is where I am now. The first receiver in the process shows up problem areas in the manufacturing cycle. Even if it makes it all the way through to become a finished receiver, it is slow. Maybe it doesn't make it. Whenever things go wrong, another is started. Right now 6 receivers are making their way thru the cycle. I'm hoping that this weekend at least one receiver will have made it. After that it goes fairly fast.
But no receiver is made to fill an order. All receivers are made for inventory. Eventually, I will be able to ship from inventory the day I receive an order. So what happens is that I will continue to make receivers. Since I have to send them out for things I am not equipped to do, I have to have enough receivers to send out at one time to make the cost of the outside work reasonable.
So just because I have finished with a bunch of receivers doesn't mean they are ready to ship. When I have receivers ready to ship I will call people who have ordered the type of receivers I have available to confirm their order and shipping information.
If there is something special about the receiver ordered such as serial number or marking, before I do the special work on a finished standard receiver, I will call the customer to confirm the details.
My point is that I do not and can not, buy a piece of steel and then work on a particular order.
If I call you and tell you that I have the two 1928A1 receivers you ordered and you tell me you changed your mind and now want two 1921s and one M1A1, or now you want the lock ramps, it doesn't make any difference to me.
If I have what you want, I'll send it, if not, I'll call you when I have what you now want. It just doesn't make any difference. Naturally, those who have waited the longest, get priority.
What I don't need are endless calls and e-mails which only slow me down. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Receiver Tools (12 Sep 07): Apparently, cutting the lock ramps is too difficult for most people, which I can understand. Probably, most machinists would have a problem with it considering the trigonometric calculations involved. So I don't think I will offer the special cutter for that. However, the basic cutters for finishing the rest of the bolt cavity may be of interest to the do-it-yourselfers. The most important, expensive and hard to find is the 1/4" wide staggered tooth x 1-1/2" diameter TIN coated long shank cutter used in forming the 1921/8 bolt cavity roof. I can supply that one for $175 which is less than the listed price. Because the original guns are so expensive, the new phenomena of making your own with a manufacturing license is growing and therefore, creating a demand for more tooling, etc. but I don't know how great that demand will become and so I don't know what to try to offer.
Receiver Fixtures (27 Aug 07): Unbelieveable! I stayed off the phone for the most part and got lucky. Theoretically, all fixtures necessary to restart receiver manufacturing have been made or refurbished. I was going to work on the fixtures as I needed them, but decided to go for broke and get everything ready to go at once. Unless there is an error some where, everything is ready to go.
Aug. 25, 2007
August 23, 2007