How to Tighten the Bite | British Side-by-Side Shotguns | MidwayUSA

The top lever on most side by side shotguns is generally to the right of center when they're new but as the gun is used, and the bolt and the bite wear together, the top lever moves to the center and eventually to the left of center. It's a fairly simple process to tighten up the bite and move the top lever back to the right. Watch along as Jack Rowe and Larry Potterfield, Founder and CEO of MidwayUSA, tighten the bite on this old side by side.
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[@WKelleyLucas_KustomScatterguns]

I've learned an incredible amount from both of these men. True craftsmen.

[@back40gunner]

quite an honour to see someone with years of experience sharing his techniques. someone said, "he probably forgot more than most gunsmiths even know". Agreed.

[@villagelightsmith4375]

For years, I've quietly pondered and scowled at the rattle in every TCR rifle I've ever owned or handled. Love the rifles; hate the loose joints when the forearm is removed. This week I will begin to do something about it. Thanks!

[@rarerepair]

Makes me wonder what other treasures of mastery are fading away without being appreciated. Thank you for having the wisdom to ask him to demonstrate his mastery!

[@whylie74]

rarerepair Frits too many.

[@wlehtola]

When we overvalue book learning of course these masters of their trades slip away quietly with few even interested in learning these trades

[@mzmadmike]

@@wlehtola There are still classic gunsmiths out there. There are just fewer classic guns for them to work on.

[@chrisdolan9515]

Firms like Westley Richards are actively training new apprentices, keeping the craft alive. The difference? Parts come to the guy at the bench much more closely resembling the finished item.

[@chrisdolan9515]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJLGaWxom611g6c

[@dkruitz]

The art of gunsmithing! Thanks for sharing this Jack and Larry!

[@californialiving866]

He was exactly right on I had this problem with my gun fixed it after watching this thanks

[@that_canadian_guy_8316]

Same thing! Been looking for just this golden kernel of knowledge for over a year! Now to go and fix my dad's old single shot!

[@cardiffpicker1]

Well he has been doing it for a few hundred years

[@varun009]

Rare to see someone take a hammer straight to the gun and do it right. Where I used to work we had a special tool for that that would slide right over the protrusion and the tool was what received the hammering. Apparently it has something to do with newer sidies having hardened steel hardware and older ones having been work hardened from multiple tunings. Absolute pleasure to watch this.

[@leviridge3307]

knew an old gunsmith from indiana the guy could fix any gun problem while you stood there and watched with amazement

[@jimelmore9728]

I’ve known two gunsmiths like this gentleman. Both have passed. Love watching these masters work.

[@marktully9128]

Let us not forget the skill regardless of country, this is brill.

[@FlowersForYou629]

Brilliant video. He is older but he still moves around guns very precisely and articulated.

[@mtslyh]

Two masters sharing their vast knowledge. This is a great series. Thanks for taking the time to put this together for all to enjoy!

[@kazwd1]

and that is priceless knowledge!! awesome vid gentlemen, thankyou

[@SonofaGun310]

I was just thinking that

[@paulpresto8140]

Just bought one of those 99.00 dollar Walmart special single shots and it was loose as a goose bite-was going to go through all the hassle of sending it back to factory -blah blah blah-but looked up this fix and bingo-it worked great. Thanks ole Timer ,I hope you have a bunch of apprentices to pass down all of your valuable knowledge to. Thanks again.

[@thomasozminkowski2589]

One of my favorites in this series. That old gent sure knows his trade. Larry is spot on as well (as usual).

[@tangobravo8889]

What a wealth of knowledge! It does bring to mind a statement made by playwright George Bernard Shaw around 1942, “Britain and the US are two nations separated by a common language”.

[@nelsonjunior7245]

Until 2050, if youtube (or you), don't make an archive of these practices... It will be lost! What a shame.

[@coldstartdaily9738]

absolutely brilliant video. RIP Jack, your expertise lives on in these videos for people like me to learn.. .from the best!

[@LuvBorderCollies]

@MidwayUSA thank you for bringing these gems of wisdom and experience to us!

[@innocentrajeshravi2615]

What an experience.. excellent smithing.. Hats off to this great man..

[@manjitsoni9676]

Very very nice formula for dbbl you doing for us old is gold respected sir thanks

[@uniballoutlaw]

LOVE how Mr Potterfield has no worries about Mr Rowe's work he has probably forgotten more about gunsmithing then most guys alive even know

[@BACCHUS777]

An absolute pleasure to watch these videos, such a wealth of information, glad it's being preserved for everyone.

[@AB-ik1ic]

I would like to meet Larry potterfield... berry intelligent man...he has alot to teach

[@darrentaylor6172]

BSA favourite gun of all time

[@scummy73dude64]

No school like the old school. Thank you so much.

[@chaseww]

Wow Super..... Love the oler English Gentleman gunsmith.

[@chaseww]

I would have loved to been with him for quite a few years to learn a lot of the trade gunsmith, he would have taught me a lot. unbelievable

[@jefflowery7308]

Larry: “Have you ever done this before”? Mr. Rowe: “No”. Joking of course. I love this video and learned a lot too!

[@ATINKERER]

Wow! That guy was amazing. Lets see lots more of that great old Master Gunsmith!

[@doogiemoster]

happy to see great skillman still teachings, master of shotguns! very not many left on earths.

[@Bestcabinetmaker]

Larry, Thank you for an otherwise impossible lesson to observe!

[@axelsprangare2579]

I love side by sides! My bernadelli hemmingway is my favorite shotgun

[@Droodog127]

Outstanding Gentleman

[@michaelkaiser1864]

I was given an old belgian sxs with damacus barrels. VERY tight! No rattle. Everythign points to being able to shoot low pressure loads with her. I have to repair a small piece near the right plate. Until I got this project gun, I've never been much of a shotty guy. I think I'm in love now. This gentleman (rest his honored soul) has taken me from just battle rifles and bolt guns to the more sophisticated side of things. When its all done, it time for a refinish with oil and rust blue.

[@Deusmecumest]

What a wonderful experience watching an old timer share experience and wisdom like that. Man I cringed at the beginning but sure hands do great work. and a pro knows what hes about. Thank you for posting.

[@csteimel]

What a great instructional video. Jack has the skills of a surgeon. Need to see more like this video.

[@edstimator1]

a surgeon with a cross peen hammer?

[@jimmycricket5366]

I love old artisans like this. Humble, calm, collected. I could detect he wanted to alter those sear profiles just a smidgen more to get comfortably inside that quarter-pound tolerance.

[@delli6059]

Both Are Legends...Self made...Respect

[@ronlafitte6864]

I’m glad to know this! I own a number of doubles and one of them has that exact problem. Now to fix it!! Thank you, Larry and Mr. Rowe!

[@conifergreen2]

A great video and lesson. Now I can tighten up my old shotgun!

[@crobulari2328]

Thank you Mr. Rowe. RIP.

[@SKALS-ICY-TOM]

i love the videos with Mr potterfield. he seems like such a cool guy

[@RobertoDonatti]

thank you for the gift you are so generously giving us!

[@19s5e18r14n]

Thank you so much for this video! Had my 1892 Bayard fixed in 30 minutes!

[@jimpokorny4598]

That young man is a pleasure to watch.

[@dkruitz]

Thanks for this Larry and Jack! I was able to tighten up my old Hopkins and Allen side by side.

[@Blake4Truth]

Thank you Jack and Larry.

[@TheKodiak72]

Very informative.. Will have to remember it for my SXS. Thanks again midway!

[@bmwnasher]

Im from the UK, lovely video, when these old boys go who`s going to know what is what, my dad was an engineer and taught me a few things, he`s gone and im 66.

[@FlourescentPotato]

rest in peace to your father, when did he die?

[@bmwnasher]

@@FlourescentPotato Many yrs have passed, my dad died in 1998 took with him a vast knowledge some was passed on to me, and now to my son.

[@fordpodge]

Thank you for the great video. Exactly what I was looking for. Thumbs up from New Zealand.

[@evilfish456]

That is old school trick to use smoke to mark where parts interact. Tough Larry usually uses more modern methods like that blue-stuff, what name I don't remember.

[@bakerthree6r]

Larry dykem

[@declan11ful]

Man this video is just cool. Seeing an old master at work absolutely incredible

[@1crimm]

great series

[@20alphabet]

This is a lovely video with much useful knowledge taught. Another series featuring Art Isaacson and the Browning Auto 5 would be really nice.

[@michaeljefferson2438]

I love watching these guys,So informative,Keep up the good work

[@kallum812]

Love watching a master craftsman at work

[@Copper1268]

I enjoy the old timers they are a wealth of knowledge

[@rjd72577]

I know that pain staking work ..awesome job

[@jeffjefferson2676]

Pretty good stuff. Yeah, that might come in handy. Maybe you can get a good deal on a shotgun with some play in it. Thank you! Greetings, Jeff

[@mikemegame1]

Wonderful English gentleman I can imagine him building colonial era shotguns

[@olaf_industries]

god bless you two awesome guys

[@SonofaGun310]

I feel like a grasshopper Great video as always

[@kiranmadaiah]

We are unlucky to have such great gun masters in my country.. India'

[@cartermorey8647]

thanks larry. thanks jack(RIP).

[@WoodieCoalburner]

Like watchmakers a fast fading “art”.

[@senseibo4401]

Well there are still plenty of us around. Just got to know where to look.

[@timkraft4583]

The wonderful world of gunsmithing. Sometimes you use a highly precise lathe to change metal a few thousandths. Sometimes you use a hammer.

[@kuglepen64]

Master at work!

[@thaiexodus2916]

I'll be guessing Mr. Rowe has forgotten more than the average gunsmith of today learns in his entire career.

[@michaeltongue]

Yes unfortunately Jack passed in 2015

[@mzmadmike]

I doubt he forgot anything.

[@TheDieselbutterfly]

@Sheila Walker a woman building precision barrels......now that is sexy

[@dp-sr1fd]

As we say in 'Brum "Gi' it some 'ommer."

[@tyronealwin1975]

Jaw dropping. It's that easy. I've past on so many good deals on shotguns because of play etc.

[@senseibo4401]

No it’s not that easy. Decades of working in the trade makes it look that way. It’s dead easy to get it wrong and make a costly mistake.

[@donzmilky5961]

thought you were gonna have a heart attack when he said he's never done it before.

[@Trumplican]

this is the first time ive seen someone in a video with Larry where Larry might not be the one with the most knowledge.

[@hakimmic]

Thank you for another informative video.

[@user-gk5uy2fs2f]

Bravo master!

[@michaelfunk5951]

Superb knowledge

[@xdoctorbeatx]

He's not from Yorkshire, that's a Brummie accent! Birmingham was once a major gunsmithing city. There are still a handful of talented old smiths there.

[@alext9067]

BSA

[@jhareng]

alex tworkowski Some of the best London guns ever made were made in Birmingham, not many quality manufacturers left AA Brown, Westley Richards, Greener

[@alext9067]

***** It's a problem on both sides of the argument. I'm seeing too many accidents due to guns falling into the wrong hands. Children, etc. The other side of the argument is protection. We could sort it out i think. Something's got to change. Don't want to see any more death, esp of children....keep working on it.

[@jhareng]

alex tworkowski We have stringent legislation here for law abiding citizens upon approval only.Most people with a gun like in video wouldn't leave lying around.

[@alext9067]

My experience is different. I can not talk about other countries, but where i live, it is bad.

[@KRN762]

Out standing!

[@bulletheed1970]

My god a talented Yorkshire-man :) .

[@MarineAqua45]

No, he's a Brummie, from Birmingham. Yorkshiremen don't talk like that.

[@21st.centuryprospector]

I'm going to try this on the interchangeable from Manhattan arms that I have and it definitely needs this procedure.

[@TheDieselbutterfly]

We had a master gunsmith in louisville named Danny.......after he died his shoes were not filled, not even close

[@ronlafitte6864]

Sadly, that is the story most often. What a loss!

[@Hemnmahmmod]

very informative vid as usual, thanks

[@phxn8tive]

Sweetness! 👍thank you!

[@jensenwilliam5434]

Thank you! Thank you!!!

[@jharchery4117]

If Potterfield would shut up and let the old gent talk, this would be an excellent video.

[@mnrodriguez]

What an honor!

[@TheBgred1]

awesome! thank you

[@dbaider9467]

John Frederick “Jack” Rowe (1936 - 2015)

[@nifty3000]

Lol his face when he grabbed the big hammer.

[@iljaj7922]

Amazing 11 minutes :)

[@jessejones6409]

That made me want to be a gunsmith.

[@drumhd1]

Brilliant!

[@308dad8]

Awesome information

[@rmbeavers]

Hrmm so this method requires altering the color of some metal....I wonder, if perhaps putting down a small protector sheet would suffice prior to hammering the crap out of the thing? maybe that would cut down on doing any grinding of metal

[@jamesmckee3548]

There are lead sheets over the vise jaws. This will keep any metal damage from happening.

[@2boredfortv]

The whole ideology of "hammering the crap out of it" is to ping the metal starting from the bottom and working up which forces the top layer in and up to take the very little slack out. It would be impossible to accomplish this without marring the surface of the metal up. The real professional work is the filing and sanding that makes the lock look brand new.

[@jhareng]

James Mckee Called lead clamps. I can remember a fellow co worker Chris Wallin making those particular clamps in 1999. Jack used to pay the Birmingham trade a visit once a year after he emigrated.

[@tuberia35]

Mis respetos a este señor. es un MAESTRO ARMERO.

[@cashotpb]

great video!

[@mustafaonder23]

Sizin paylaşımlarınızı izliyor ve takip ediyorum benimde İspanyol. Aya piper çiftem var elinizdeki tüfek gibi boşluk var ne yapmam lazım sizleri tebrik ediyorum muhteşem ustalık

[@tjwright2580]

I would love to own an old english side by side

[@funkyzero]

Seriously, it's getting very difficult to find anyone left who can be trusted with old box locks. "I have a buddy that knows someone who is good" isn't enough for me to hand a 4 or 5 thousand dollar shotgun to work on. I wish I would have shown an interest when i was young and learned from some of the old timers around me. bla bla.. wasted youth and whatnot...

[@MarineAqua45]

Absolutely correct there. It's a shame BSA was sold off 30 years ago, as those old boys of Jacks era were still about in the industry who could have trained up more apprentices on mass. But then again the government of the day never invested in gun-trade apprenticeships ( should have given alot of money to independent gunsmiths or corporate ones, like. BSA & Parker-Hale) & they & Blairs slightly anti-gun Labour Party screwed this up due to politics. Thatcher was anti-Union & Blair had anti-gun pansies in his party kicking up a stink over guns-so mo apprenticeships.

[@YaoiMastah]

Well, you could go (but quickly, before the UK leaves the EU) to the gunsmith college of Liege where they still teach you how to make side-by-sides from scratch. But you need to speak French for that.

[@BrokenRotor486]

I wanted to apply for an apprenticeship with Holland and Holland but being a us citizen it would be quite difficult.

[@senseibo4401]

@@BrokenRotor486 to be honest unless you were going to live in London and prove it they wouldn’t spend the time and money to teach you only to have you disappear back to the states.

[@longbowmanjimmy]

Great video. Could you use this method if the barrels are on face but there is some up and down play, or should I use the shim stock repair method? Thanks, help is much appreciated. The gun is a Belgian side lock, if that helps.

[@BIG_TICKS_MEDIA]

I'm confused, he sounds too much like Lemmy from motorhead! Still an amazing video though!

[@MarineAqua45]

Lemmy & Jack were from the same county. They both had a West-Midlands or ‘Black Country’ accent.

[@bradcogan8588]

Both Brum. Or at least both black country. Same as Ozzy.

[@EricTViking]

@@bradcogan8588 also Judas Priest. Brummies are the metal gods 😂👍