Anvil 076: French Revolver Grip Fabrication

[@IRMacGuyver]

Ian, Othais, and Mark. The three best friends a gun could have.

[@clayton5584]

I can't tell you how much i appreciate the work you put into these videos

[@subterfusion4005]

Your stockmaking is really inspiring.

[@monkeyship74401]

I really love work, I can sit around and watch it for hours. This man is a true craftsman and occasionally an artist too. Thank you Mark for another excellent video showing why I don't do wood working or metal work...

[@ferdberffle]

That was inspiring. Also I noticed one of the cameras had a date stamp of 2023-02-13, so congrats on making it into 2023. I hope it's a better year.

[@frankdn109]

Prooving that Mark is a visitor from somewhen else.

[@g.sanders6916]

He got tired of 2020, so he used his secret project of a time machine to get away for a bit before coming back with videos. Could it be a warning from him of that is when we finally get back to normal?

[@Frank-Thoresen]

The truth is that his rabbit hole is literally a time machine

[@tomtruesdale6901]

Well he did say that during the filming he learned "Mark should not touch the camera equipment" maybe he did the date/time setup?

[@dozer1642]

I just really enjoy your videos. Please don’t stop making them. You are a Master Craftsman.

[@TheHiddenPart]

A French revolver aaaand it's Ian's. Who'd have thought.

[@rustyshakleford5230]

releasing videos early is a cool but mark is ahead of the curve showing videos from 2023

[@marksimone5609]

Wow! Mark Novak is truly amazing. I would love to see more on checkering. Appreciate all the videos and explaining along the way. Guys a true craftsman. Ian should be very pleased.

[@richardslaubaugh2368]

I continue to be amazed at the ingenuity of you Mark and the expertise you posses. It shows that the decades of experience you have shows on each and every video. Please continue the terrific content it is not only informative but entertaining.

[@somefool4625]

We got a french...Its Ians.

[@Letyourcolorsblendwithmine]

Bingo.

[@williamhart4896]

When you say that we're going down the rabbit hole it tells us that it's a good teaching video on weapon repair always a pleasure to watch the trip down as you explain it.

[@stefanmolnapor910]

I read the title and jokingly thought, "Must be Ian's" 😃😅😂😅😂😅😂

[@Strawberry92fs]

I'm a simple girl. I see an anvil episode. I click.

[@BigATB]

My go-to line when I'm just browsing in a gun store when they ask if they can help me is "do you have any .32 French Long?"

[@Strawberry92fs]

But do they have Battletoads?

[@BradMurray]

Beautiful work, Mark, and great taste in music too. Thanks for a soothing morning.

[@AltGrendel]

Yea, love watching his work.

[@chrislucero5708]

As a 25yr your literally my favorite KZbinr you deserve to make millions for the content you provide

[@SNOUPS4]

I decided to watch this one when I heard Ian McCollum. Awesome video! Nice workmanship!

[@jeremiahembs5343]

$600? That's a steal man. Restoration, preservation, historical research, wood, checkering, chiseling, inletting, rasping, wear on your checking tools, and the time to stone the sharp instruments and the stone itself and stain and oil and dry times, any pumice or sandpaper. Wear and tear on the tools alone would be $100+. If the book is rare it might cost $100-200 to obtain. Wear and tear on your eyes. Your lungs. Your hands and neck. Your electricity costs. And then hourly wage. You gave them a major break. By the way that rasp is amazing. Cuts like a dream.

[@garymitchell5899]

Tool wear would be ¢10 at most. Just out of curiosity - which craftsman do you know who charge for wear on their lungs?

[@jeremiahembs5343]

@@garymitchell5899 Most do. That's why labour is so expensive now. Healthcare costs have to be factored in. If anything they don't charge nearly enough.

[@419bradleybuilt]

Wow just wow! The Craftsmanship Mark has just blows my mind! Time is money and those grips are worth a weeks pay. The video editing had to be a chore like no other. Good work guys! Thanks for sharing knowledge so it doesn't die.

[@rangersmith4652]

Dropping small parts can be ab epic adventure. I remember dropping a primer on my bench and losing track of its bounce. It needed finding because--it's a primer. I eventually found it in a room across the hall from where I dropped it.

[@gousmc1983]

Video was great, but simply amazing how your camera is able to capture Feb 2023 and send it back to Oct 2020! At least we know the world doesn't end just yet lol

[@g.sanders6916]

He just got tired of 2020, and used his secret project to get away for a bit. Then he came back with videos. But could it also be a warning of that's when we finally get back to normal?

[@paulmanson253]

Possibly they now have a "best before" date. As in,vintage stereo systems that cost a bunch but no longer work. As in,buy a technological replacement before that date or the bloody thing will melt in your hand. As in,as of that date the manufacturer will no longer support the product,you are on your own there bud ? Windows 3.1 and 3.4 were just good enough to CNC "analog" woodworking machinery. No sooner did a bunch of woodworking guys do that conversion than Microsoft did just that. Leaving behind some very angry shop owners. So maybe this an example of forward thinking ? A disclaimer for future (suckers?) (camera owners?) ???

[@stuartdrakley2106]

Mi Mark, another informative and fascinating video displaying the quality of your craftsmanship. the real reason i am posting this commenty is to compliment whomever on the choice of incidental music that plays in the background whenever there is no narrative, could it be you Mark? We all know that you are a virtuoso pianist but some of the pieces I don't recognise-brilliant stuff. Crare to comment? Anvil is a great, high quality post, Stu UK

[@chestertnted]

The checkering technique was great to watch.

[@LoganNova]

Thanks Mr. Novak. You are a great teacher. Stop apologizing for your hands in the way. People here to truly learn factor that in. It adds a little character.

[@milkhorse]

I appreciate that this video is from >2 years in the future

[@chrisstephens6673]

A new phrase for you to teach is a quote from Frank Pain, an old English woodturner, "always cut wood the way she likes to be cut"

[@pikeywyatt]

thank you Mark.from a 74 year old in uk .i only work on one plane.your work is magic. THANKS.

[@stefanmolnapor910]

Hey Bruno, Thanks for all you do! You and Mark are amazing!

[@jaredhodgins2078]

Whisper's "give me that other grip" 😂 you're the best Mark!

[@williammills7778]

Another great video in the can. I sincerely appreciate you providing these videos, most of us will never get the chance to see such a master at work. Thanks so very much.

[@gonhar]

The music and the workmanship... WOW.

[@tigerbond4064]

Thank you for bring REAL about the costs!

[@jefferyrader5153]

Mark, I am currently a student and this video has certainly helped me better understand checkering. Thank you!

[@jasonsummit1885]

Just be glad you aren't making grips out of stone. I did it once for a Ruger .38 special owned by a friend of mine, they were out of a golden yellow jasper and after I got done it looked awesome and shot great. Made the recoil feel like shooting a .25 cal. Took about a week to make them and I definitely won't make them ever again.😂

[@jeffreyjefferson536]

That checkering section got me on various levels. The level of craftsmanship is incredible. And the music fits perfectly - one piece of art accompanying another!!! Seriously, right in the feels. I didn't know I could get emotional about woodworking, but that piece did it. Subscribed as of today! Now I just hope to find that piece of music somewhere in the comments. I need to know.

[@StonyRC]

$600.00 for that much hand-crafted master-craftsman expertise ... is a freaking BARGAIN. If I were the customer I would thank you, pay the bill and RUN out your workshop before you had a chance to reconsider - LOL. Another truly wonderful video - LOVE your work and excellent humour.

[@RadDadisRad]

Always a spectacle to behold watching you work. I truly enjoy all of the videos you do.

[@pilgrimm23]

Mark: I in NO WISE am comparable to Mr McCollum but I do own copies of "Les Revolvers Militare", French Service Pistols, Proud Promise, and Ian's book, (btw I have is Dad's book too, Japanese weapons are COOL!) and have a small collection of French firearms including a MAS-36, a Mas-49/56 (Iterarms 308 conversion dang it, but with a new firing pin), a R35 Carbine and a destroyed Berthier, also 1935 A and S and a MAB and a Lefaucheux pinfire/center fire conversion 44(?). Your videos are instructive in spite of your disclaimer and your piano playing is divine (please do more). Thank you for some just plain FUN!

[@martinm3474]

The Date stamp indicates you did this in 2 1/2 years from now...was your shop that backed up with work that you're left to videoing in the future?

[@nitr0junki3]

The checkering segment was exquisite.

[@johnlippincott1001]

One piece of advice to folks new to checkering: Dont cheap-out on cutters. Saving $3 by trying to stretch a dull tool a little farther is an exercise that will lead to self-loathing. Love the videos, Amigo!

[@ScottKenny1978]

If your wood working tools aren't sharp enough to *dry shave* with, get them sharpened!

[@coax31]

Mark, I hope you have apprenticeships your skill and craftsmanship should be passed on to future generations.

[@rossfudd256]

I love the way Bruno can take you into the future to do the videos. (time stamp 2023 2/13) Fun.... ;-)

[@billtheunjust]

Beautiful work, and as always thanks for getting it on camera for us to enjoy.

[@jeopardy4100]

Michelangelo, it is said, could look at a block of marble and see the finished statue. On an artistic scale, I believe Mark is capable of doing the same to a block of wood. Craftsmanship at its finest sir.

[@brucekiszely2995]

Outstanding work!!!, And great commentary!!, Thank you Mark 👍🇱🇷

[@carlcolberg8346]

That’s ONLY $600 some dollars of work? I watch your stuff regularly, I love your content, and your work is flat out awesome. Keep the old guns running! (About to build some grips for a Ruger Mark 1 I rescued, so re-watching old videos).

[@PLAYINGAROUND]

You can tell a craftsman from the way his tongue sticks out in concentration. Excellent work Mark! $600! Is that all?!

[@johnchristopherrobert1839]

The handle is gorgeous!

[@kirkethridge2500]

just noticed you did the stock work in yr 2023!! You have a time machine!!! (really enjoy your videos,, have learned much!!)

[@rodrigodepierola]

The checkering part is awesome. I'm not confirming, nor denying, that some heavy-caliber expletives came out of my mouth as I watched it, I may have said horrible things about different memebers of your family. Man, it's just poetry and ballet.

[@cogburnarsenal9284]

There is something poetic about watching Mark shape and checker grips while I model some Mlok rail covers with checkering on the computer. Now lets see if my printer can do half as good of a job as Mark.

[@slowturtle6745]

Very, very cool video. A symphony of artistic craftsmanship.

[@philjungels7617]

Love your content! I can't believe you don't have half a million subs. You are a true Craftsman!

[@TheGeekiestGuy]

Thanks for sharing this one. I always dig your work. It's nice to see another person that keeps their chisels sharp. Stay safe and happy holidays, you legends. 🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾

[@jeffhoward9186]

Awesome job! It shows your talent, knowledge, and respect of the weapon itself and to your profession.

[@RadDadisRad]

You could use cactus juice and a vacuum chamber to resin impregnate whatever wood you use. I absolutely love using cactus juice for wood as it stabilizes it and gives it that freshly wetted look.

[@ScottKenny1978]

Call me a dinosaur, I like linseed oil.

[@SavageShooter93]

It really is crazy how they set up old factories, lines and lines of machines that performed a single operation, it may not seem efficient when compared to a single machine doing many operations but when it comes to large scale production it works great. I really wish a whole WW1/WW2 era factory had been preserved so people could actually see how it was done. And I certainly wouldn't complain about having a whole Garand or M1 Carbine factory still cranking them out the way they used to.

[@DriveCarToBar]

I always chuckle a little when I hear about an old Colt New Army that needs a spring. I can't imagine trying to get one of these things back together.

[@john-paulsilke893]

$600 for the grips and light conservation. But what did the firing pin and spring cost? It looked like a $200 wall hanger but when it leaves your shop it’s a lovely $2,000 historical shooting piece. Pretty expensive but for the right person it’s chump change. To me it seems like there is still value here.

[@madmodifier]

Great work Mr Novak! Thanks for another great video!

[@johncashwell1024]

$600 for that amount of work by a proper master gunsmith is a darn good deal and worth every penny. I watched a film from WW2 about the making of Garands at Springfield Armory and it showed those stock duplicating machines and the inletting jigs for cutting out the inside of the stocks. Indeed, it only takes a few minutes knock out perfect stocks, when you have several high $$$ pieces of equipment to do it with! By hand, forget about it!

[@karas3248]

If its french, Ian Macullum probably owns it

[@marknovak8255]

He does in fact own this one

[@blairbuskirk5460]

Admire the dedication to craft, envy the tools and their impeccable sharpness.

[@billyanderson321]

So you’re gunsmith to the gun Jesus. That makes you like a gun apostle lol

[@billyanderson321]

@Tom Magee gun Jesus

[@CrazyPetez]

You’re an amazing craftsman. Ian will be pleased. I really like the border around the checkering on the grips. I have Altamont grips on most of my 1911s with a similar border. I know the Altamont are machine made and can’t hold a candle to what you’re doing, but I like the looks they give a 1911.

[@brucemccreary38]

When I did grips for Luger and P-38 pistols and carbines for John Martz the custom Luger maker from Lincoln, CA., I used to mill the grips on a milling machine. P-38 grips were the most difficult because they wrapped around the back of the pistol. Mark did a great job on these grips however, he did way too much work contouring them. I used a Dremel tool to contour. I used metallic tape to protect the frames and power sanded to the tape.

[@janwacawik7432]

Hats off to you for your work for John Martz!

[@Strawberry92fs]

Shoulda checked the 24 hour French Revolver parts store.

[@shawnoandrew]

Beautiful finished product and that is a talent that I'd love to have.

[@someguy2741]

Note to whenever you see an angle that... at least in north america... drafting tables had locks at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 degrees... so when it doubt aim for one of those. This is standard for architectural and structural drawings to the extent that when you look at old drawings and see something silly like 6 degrees its because the guy screwed up his drawings and rubbed out the 15 and made it work. There is also a universal WTF of all the old guys looking at it when they see it :p Its too bad that most of the old mylar drawings are tossed in the garbage now.

[@arthurhucksake2665]

Beautifully done!

[@peterlovett5841]

Mark, or Bruno, would you please add the title of the music you use in your videos in the details. I know this is entirely secondary to the skills shown but I like the music you use and would welcome the information. Thank you.

[@sheldoniusRex]

Plus one. Some of us gun nerds also like music.

[@unclebuzz6913]

I would guess, as I have never made a set of grips, that the old saying, One aw shit, cancels out, a whole bunch of atta boys... You still have the greatest job on the planet.... In my opinion... Stay Safe God Bless you and your loved ones Godspeed P. S. Beautiful job, as always.

[@larrybair8074]

That checkering was masterful.

[@albertokri6119]

Dear Mr. Novak, can you tell me how to build a tool, to review and enhace the graining of some handles and how to shine them? Your channel is the best there is on this tópic. Congratulations.

[@paulkelly2882]

Fantastic job, looks beautiful

[@Calum_S]

2023? Gunsmithing from the future

[@ammarchetta]

Wow. Thanks tor an awesome video.

[@SaposJoint]

Good job, and a good job explaining it. Thank you.

[@snappers_antique_firearms]

Hey Mark I had a quick question for you. I really have looked into buying a model 1877 Colt Lightning. everyone tells me to stay away from it because they're very unreliable and really really hard to work on. is this true? And I am someone getting into gunsmithing and with moderate Gunsmithing skills what would your recommendation be go for it or not.

[@BrunoWiebelt]

fantastic to see this woodwork, missing only a closeup of the tip of the checkering tool .thx for the video

[@geetarmanpete]

Oh snap! Mark is coming to us from the future!

[@PlayerSalt]

Id love ot have seen the owners reaction to the inside of this gun , what a mess glad mark is on the job

[@philllax1719]

Nothing could surprise gun Jesus

[@johnchristopherrobert1839]

It has to be considered that the light in the photos is harder that in the video. That hard light brightens the colors of the subject gun.

[@cariboupetepeterson3711]

Beautiful......bringing a revolver back to life!

[@ketchman8299]

God I hate checkering! Waaay too time consuming and all for naught if the smallest error happens. But you Sir have shown how well it can be done. However, where is the viewing of the finished product?! We were hoping to see this revolver in it's conserved glory!

[@williebulletman5217]

Mark your amazing at what you do

[@wolfpack4694]

Another great video Mark and Bruno! How often do u sharpen the chisels? They are looking silky smooth on that wood!

[@tomtruesdale6901]

Outstanding display of your talents. Working on that gun must have been an education in and of itself. What did the bore look like?

[@louisrauzi3872]

That people is craftsmanship.

[@kevincolwell9575]

Hi Mark - I get frustrated sometimes with the grain not cooperating when I am getting close to final size. I have a couple of really good files with milled teeth by Corradi and Pferd, and they slice the wood really well, even if it isn't in line with the grain. You can't go totally against the grain, but you can come close. Better than with a chisel, even a razor sharp one. I agree with you that I never use these on metal, except copper or silver some. Only in a pinch, though. It is fun watching you and learning some of your techniques. thanks again.

[@darrenglover2126]

Congratulations on 40,000 subs!

[@YerluvinunclePete]

Just from the sound I know I covet that rasp.

[@johnjunge6989]

I'll bet you had shop classes in high school too? I can't say how much I'm glad I had them. I can weld, run a lathe, AC/DC electrical work, and wood working, all because of shop! I have three degrees from post high school studies. But I think schools doing away with these and trying to get kids to go to college is wrong! Our carpenters union just held an open house to show HS kids what else is available. Wish they would see one of your videos so they can see what being versatile means! Good stuff Mark!!

[@tracyepeterson7817]

I absolutely love your videos, I’m not a gun smith, but I would love to be, and someday I hope I will be able to go to a gunsmith school, even if it’s not for my employment, I love working on them

[@mqL49J]

10:24 Out of all power tools, routers make the funniest noises.

[@Swearing0000]

A French pistol that belongs to Gun Jesus....not shocking

[@josephroy3665]

I like to think Ian watched this intensely haha great work as always!

[@mjcyrano68]

Thank you. I truly enjoy your ministry to these older technologies. Please let me know if that is your airborne patch on the wall.